How to Build a Pergola or Trellis

Summary: Learn how to liven up your garden or your backyard in this free home improvement video from our construction expert. What you need is a pergola, which is essentially a trellis of cross beams supported by columns and posts. It may be free-standing or connected to a building, and in some cases act as a cover for a walkway. Pergolas were popular features of Renaissance-era gardens, when they often played host to willow and hazel shoots.

In this series, our expert demonstrates the entire process of making your own pergola, from choosing the right tools, to creating patterns, to tracing and then cutting out these pattern from plywood squares. He shows you how to anchor the base in concrete, then attach the columns and supports to the cross beams. After watching this excellent series, you will be ready to renovate your garden.