How to Build a Japanese Garden Bridge
Japanese gardens have become popular in the Western world and with good reason. They are a place of peace and tranquility in a stressful and hectic life. One important feature of the Japanese garden is the garden bridge. In the West, the bridge is typically used to cross over a thin body of water, but in the Japanese garden, it is more about transitioning within the landscape of the garden.
Items Needed:
- Measuring tape
- Two curved beams four to eight inch squared
- Cross planks 2x4
- Saw, hand or circular
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Wood protector
- Stain (optional)
- Determine Location of bridge and measure the span. The span of the bridge is the distance from one side to the other.
- Cut curved beams to desired span. If you are placing your bridge over water, make sure you measure well beyond the water’s edge onto the bank.
- Determine the desired length of the cross planks. You can do this by placing the curved beams apart to the desired width. Make sure it is wide enough to comfortably cross, and not so wide that you lose stability in the planks. A good width is typically three to four feet.
- Cut enough cross planks to make the path of your bridge. Planks should only be wide enough to reach over the top of the curved beams and be flush with the side of each beam.
- Screw planks onto the curved beams beginning at the pinnacle of the bridge. Leave a small gap between each plank to allow the wood to expand and contract during cold weather, rain or warm weather.
- Place completed bridge in desired location.
- Treat wood to protect it from water. This is especially important if you place your curved bridge over water.
- Stain the wood if so desired. Some people use a colored wood, such as redwood to construct the bridge so that staining is not necessary.