Wooden Garden Bridges: Dramatic Impact for Your Gardens

Nothing adds form and functionality more attractivelyincluding a Japanese bridge, along with Japanese
than wooden garden bridges placed strategicallywater plants and other ornamental plants can result in
outdoor landscape appeal. This "hardscape" item cana beautiful, tranquil outdoor retreat with the right choice
add dramatic interest to water gardens; serve as aof plant material and other hardscape décor
practical (and lovely!) access across ponds, ditches, oritems. Good plants to use for this purpose would
other low areas; or simply be placed as aninclude Japanese boxwood, aralias, horsetail reed,
eye-catching focal point to highlight any area of a yard.water lilies for the pond, monkey grass (as a
Material, Sizes, and Optionsgroundcover), and for a spectacular specimen tree,
Less expensive wooden garden bridges come madeJapanese maple.
most commonly from pressure-treated pine. If you'reOnline Sources
willing to pay the price, however, you can also getMany online Web-site retailers offer wooden garden
these pretty footbridges made from suchbridges. A quick, online search with the appropriate
weather-resistant woods as teak, cedar, or redwood.keywords results in hundreds of selections - all you
The most popular sizes include lengths of four, six, andneed do is select which one offers the best price and
eight feet, but many online, as well as brick-and-mortarquality. When purchasing online, always make sure you
companies, that manufacture them also offerare buying from a secure site, however, and check to
custom-built bridges to satisfy any specified length thesee if the site offers testimonials. Asking for
homeowner requests and is willing to pay for.references from previous customers is another,
Most companies that offer wooden garden bridges orperhaps even better, method of screening potential
footbridges also offer optional railings on their creations.retailers to get the best deal at the best price AND to
This extra feature may add some to the cost, but itknow you're getting your bridge from a reputable
also provides a safer way to cross the bridge,company.
especially if the surface of the wood becomesSo whether you're in the market for wooden garden
slippery from rain, snow, or ice. If you do not anticipatebridges as an impressive focal highlight in your
the need to ever cross your garden bridge underbackyard retreat or if you'll be using yours as a
these circumstances, then, of course, railings are notneeded way to cross over a pond or ditch, you won't
necessary. And some people prefer the cleaner lineshave any trouble find just what you need. Just take
of the bridge, alone, without the railings, which do add asome time to check out what's available, from whom,
degree of cumbersomeness to beauty of the bridge.and at what price. All the information you need is just a
Complementary Plantingsmouse click away.
Wooden garden bridges are often sold as "Japanese"Visit and read about fish pond maintenance and solar
bridges because of the origin and popularity of thepowered pond pumps.
style in that country. Creating a water garden feature