Addressing Common Questions About Pergolas

For those wanting to have a comfortable area in their backyards, a pergola may be the ideal solution. These elegant structures are designed to offer you a source of shade without creating an eyesore for your property. However, you may not be familiar with these structures, and as a result, you may benefit from having the following questions concerning pergolas answered. 

How Can You Increase The Shade Offer By Your Pergola?

While a pergola will offer your a substantial amount of shade, it is not a perfectly shaded area. This is because of the gaps in the top beams of the structure. Not surprisingly, there are many people that want to increase the amount of shade that they get from their pergola, but they may not know how to go about this. 

Luckily, it is possible for you to plant fast-growing vines around your pergola. These vines will grow to the top of the structure where they will fill in the gaps between the beams. To help speed this process along, it may be possible to plant certain types of vines on the top of the pergola by hanging pots of soil from the beams. 

What Should You Do If The Soil Around The Pergola Starts To Erode?

The installation of a pergola can dramatically change the way that water flows through your yard. Unfortunately, this may contribute to erosion issues, and if you notice the soil around the support beams eroding away, you will need to act quickly to limit the damage. To this end, there are some simple steps you can take to mitigate this problem. 

One of the most effective ways of addressing erosion problems is through the installation of french drains around the pergola. These drains are buried beneath the soil, which allows them to discreetly remove any excess water from the area before it is able to contribute to erosion. Another potentially effective solution is to place rapidly growing plants around the base of the pergola. The roots from these plants will help hold the soil in place, which will further reduce the threats posed by this issue. 

Adding a pergola to your yard can be an excellent upgrade that may provide your family with a comfortable shaded area as well as improving the value of your property. Yet, you may not understand these systems, which can cause you to need some questions answered before deciding if this is the right option for your yard. Knowing that you can increase the shade and aesthetics of the pergola by using vines to fill in the top of the structure and how to combat erosion, you will be better able to decide if this will be a good match for your yard's needs. 

For more information, consult a local contractor offering pergola installation (such as Rocky Mountain Fence & Deck).