Garden Structures

Most gardens have at least one structure in them apart from the house itself. Some, such as sheds and greenhouses, are practical, while others, summer houses for instance, are more for pleasure. These structures should be chosen to blend in with the style of the garden and any buildings in the vicinity.

Sheds often have little aesthetic appeal but can be effectively disguised with a trellis or screen supporting climbing plants. Wood is more sympathetic than most other materials, but if you are building on a grand scale, brick or stone sheds can be constructed. Such structures can be covered with climbing plants, as can those of wood, but the latter will have to be stripped of creepers to carry out maintenance.

Greenhouses can be difficult to site. Although they need an open, sunny aspect, for visual reasons they should be tucked out of the way rather than placed in a prominent position. Wooden-framed greenhouses are better insulated, but those with durninium frames are easier to maintain.

Summer houses, either totally enclosed or with one open side, can look very handsome when they are found, nestling in a secluded corner of the garden. Make sure they are big enough for two or more people to sit comfortably, preferably at a table. Pavilions are an original and exciting alternative; they are usually constructed to cover a bench or seat and are often set at the end of a path or avenue.

There are plenty of smaller structures that can be used around the garden, partly as decorative features and partly as practical objects. Dovecotes are popular; the design is up to the individual and, although good examples can be bought, the gardener can always make his or her own. Beehives are also attractive, especially the old-fashioned white ones which add a cottage atmosphere to the garden. These can be functional – a home to bees – or purely decorative.

Follies can be built but, generally speaking, the garden must be quite large in order to accommodate them. They come in many forms including buildings, monuments and ruins. Ruins are easy to construct; rather than completely dismantling an old disused brick or stone shed, do so only partly and allow it to become overgrown with ivy and moss.