Fabulous DIY Wooden Arbor for the Garden Patio

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall.

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio (HERE) one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entry from the garden.  

Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   Plus it looks beautiful with our clematis vine trailing on it!

This simple wooden arbor only took a few hours to make & was FREE to make because we used scrap wood from the deck that we took down (HERE) & wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall (HERE).

Fabulous DIY Wooden Arbor for the Garden Patio

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When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall. #arbor #gardenarbor #diy #outdoordiy #backyardideas https://lehmanlane.net

Supplies Needed for a DIY Wooden Arbor for the Garden

(our arbor is secured to previous posts cemented into the ground as well as our wood retaining wall)

  • (2) 6 by 6 pressure treated posts – cut 8ft long for the tall vertical posts
  • (1) 6 by 6 pressure treated post cut 68″ long for the horizontal post
  • (2) 6 by 6 pressure treated post cut 48″ long for the short vertical posts
  • A few 2 by 6 boards zipped down to create the arbor
  • 3″ exterior screws
  • 2 lag bolts to connect the arbor to a previously cemented post & hammer
  • L shaped brackets
  • 2 wood finials
  • Scrap pressure treated wood for angled wood at the top of the tall posts
  • a flowering vine to cover the arbor (we chose a sweet autumn clematis)

Tools Needed for a How to Build a DIY Wooden Arbor for the Garden

  • chain saw or miter saw to cut the boards
  • table saw to cut the wood for the arbor
  • cordless screwdriver
  • hammer
When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall.

Instructions for How to Make a DIY Wooden Arbor Step by Step

From the giant wood pile at the back of our yard, Jason was able to find the right amount of wood to make our wooden arbor with.

DIY Wooden Arbr - wood pile

Cutting the Pressure Treated Posts to Size

He used his chain saw to cut the pressure treated wood to the size we wanted it to be.

DIY Wooden Arbor - sawing the wood

Attaching the DIY Wooden Arbor to our Backyard Patio

The two 6 by 6 pressure treated posts are 8 feet tall & approximately 44″ apart.

DIY Wooden Arbor - pressure treated posts

We leveled the rocks under them and Jason secured them using outdoor screws to 2 posts that had been cemented to the ground from a previous wooden arbor that had been here.

DIY Wooden Arbor - screwing in the posts

Securing our DIY Wooden Arbor Posts

Jason also secured these posts with 2 lag bolts into our retaining wall (HERE).

DIY Wooden Arbor - lag bolt

We added another 6 by 6 post to the top of the posts leaving them a little room for the vine to hang over and secured the horizontal post to the vertical post using 3 inch exterior screws.  

Jason always drills a small pilot hole before adding any screws so as not to splinter the wood.

DIY Wooden Arbor

Creating & Attaching Lattice for the Top of the Wooden Arbor

He then cut down 2 pressure treated 2 by 6’s from our previous deck with his table saw to create the cross boards at the top of the wooden arbor for the vine to climb & grow between each of the lattice boards.

DIY Wooden Arbor - L bracket
DIY Wooden Arbor - lattice

We added some L shaped brackets to the boards to attach them to the top of the wooden arbor entry from our garden.

DIY Wooden Arbor - finial

Attaching Finials to Finish off our Wooden Arbor

Jason added 2 more 4 foot posts to either side of the wooden arbor along with 2 finials left over from the previous garden arbor.

The finials really add character & give our wooden arbor a more finished & refined look.

DIY Wooden Arbor - finial

Our DIY Wooden Arbor looks beautiful as the entry from our backyard patio & garden.

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall.
When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall.

Our DIY wooden arbor really makes this space feel more & more like an outdoor room. We love spending time on our backyard patio.

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall. #arbor http://lehmanlane.net

What to Grow on a Wooden Garden Arbor

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall. #arbor #gardenarbor #diy http://lehmanlane.net
Sweet Autumn Clematis

Since completing the DIY wooden arbor, I planted a sweet autumn clematis to climb & grow on our arbor.

It is a beautiful backdrop to grow on our wooden arbor.

Hirt’s Gardens Sweet Autumn Clematis Vine – Clematis paniculata – Fragrant – 2.5″ Pot

We had this vine at our previous house and it had beautiful white flowers and pretty fall red color of the leaves.

We love how this beautiful blooming vine looks on our wooden arbor as the entrance from our garden & backyard patio.

The flowers smell delicious too!

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall. #arbor #gardenarbor #diy #backyardideas https://lehmanlane.net

Two years later & our sweet autumn clematis has started to grow & is GORGEOUS!!!

You can see how the wood on our DIY wooden arbor has started to weather, turn grey & look more beautiful over time.

I love the contrast & texture of the grey wood against the green of our live clematis vine on our DIY wooden arbor.

When we decided to create our sunken brick patio one thing that I really wanted to add was a wooden arbor entrance from the garden.  Our wooden arbor does a wonderful job of making this outdoor space feel more like an outdoor room.   This wooden arbor was fairly simple to make and we made it using scrap wood from the deck that we took down and wood left over from creating our wood retaining wall. #arbor #gardenarbor #diy http://lehmanlane.net
Sweet Autumn Clematis

If you have been following along you know that our new wooden arbor is one of the final steps of our backyard patio makeover. 

To start at the beginning of this makeover when it looked like this….click here. 

Back Patio - the plan and deck demo - deck gone

Our Back Patio is DONE! I still can’t Believe ALL we did

  • Deck Demo (see how we demoed our deck HERE)
  • Save Brick from Previous Patio
  • Dig an 8 foot by 8 foot space for our Hot Tub
  • Build a retaining wall around the sunken patio (see how we created our retaining wall HERE)
  • Move the Hot Tub (see how we moved our hot tub with just 2 people HERE)
  • Level the Ground inside the Patio
  • Use Reclaimed Brick and Create a Brick Patio (see how we created our brick patio HERE)
  • Use Reclaimed Flagstone/ Bluestone for walkway in front of Sliding Doors (see how we created a flagstone patio HERE)
  • Landscape around Sunken Patio (see what we planted around our patio HERE)
  • Build an Arbor for the Entrance to the Patio
  • Bring the Outdoor Furniture Back

Check out the FULL Reveal of our Backyard Patio (HERE)

We transformed the backyard of our farmhouse by taking down a deck and creating a sunken brick and flagstone patio. Back Patio Makeover - Final Reveal / sunken patio / brick patio/ farmhouse backyard / patio makeover/ diy http://lehmanlane.net

We couldn’t be happier with how our new wooden arbor turned out!

If you are thinking about adding a DIY Wooden Arbor to your garden I hope you will give it a try!

by Tara Lehman

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