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In high school Dana Dokken, owner of Bridge City Arbors in Vancouver, says she wanted to sign up for shop class but had to take home economics instead.
"Back then, girls didn't take shop," she says with a laugh. "So I had to teach myself."
Today the self-taught woodworker builds custom trellises, arbors, and pergolas that are in demand from clients across the country. Her work has been featured in national magazines, Parade of Homes events, home and garden shows, and more.
Escape to your Own Backyard
Dokken says the launch of her business eight years ago dovetailed nicely with a national trend toward nesting.
"The backyard has become the new weekend destination," she says. "People want their yards to be an extension of the home, a place that they can escape to."
At the same time, with the size of the average lot shrinking, creating privacy has become a prime concern, she says.
"Trellises, arbors, and pergolas all lend a feeling of enclosure and can help set a relaxing mood," she says. "They can create a screen, a focal point, and a place to go."
Architectural Ties
Dokken, who is trained in both design and architecture, says homeowners wanting to add structures to their gardens can achieve the best effect by playing off their home's unique style.
"I like to pull in details from the house, like brackets or trim, to visually tie the two together," she says.
Otherwise the various structures take on a hodge-podge effect -- a Victorian gazebo juxtaposed against a mid-50s ranch, for example -- rather than flow as a cohesive unit.
"By tying in the architecture, these structures can greatly enhance the home's value and appearance," she says. "They should feel like they are part of the whole, not like something that was added later."
With the aid of CAD software that can provide 3-D renderings of plans, Dokken can help homeowners "see" exactly what the finished structure will look like in relation to the home and garden from any angle, before a single board is cut.
Scale Up
When it comes to garden structures, Dokken says size does matter.
One problem she sees with many off-the-shelf garden structures is that they're designed to fit in boxes that can be easily shipped. However their resulting size can make them seem like doll furniture in relation to the home.
"In addition to the architectural details, you need to also think about keeping it all in proportion and scale," she says. "Otherwise structures become a distraction rather than an enhancement."
Diminutive structures can lack long-term sturdiness and often don't leave enough room for a lawn tractor to pass or mature plants to stretch out.
"What you build needs to be durable and functional," Dokken says. "You don't want the trellis to be falling apart or engulfed by the time the plant you're growing on it reaches full size."
To make sure her structures will be an asset instead of a roadblock, Dokken says she's gone as far as utilizing her design software to ensure a canoe one homeowner stored alongside their home could portage through a planned arbor.
"We made sure there would be plenty of clearance," she says. "Whether it's a gate, an arbor, trellis, or pergola -- you need to plan so that the biggest object you'll need to get through there actually can."
Placement Tips
Of course, another question homeowners need to answer is, "Where will you put it?"
Dokken recommends homeowners think easy access when making this important decision.
"For example, if you're going to have an outdoor kitchen, make sure it isn't so far from your home that it becomes a chore to carry everything," she says.
Likewise, if a structure will require lighting or running water, knowing the proximity of utilities to the site and the expenses of hooking in are critical, she says.
"Today, these structures are getting a lot more elaborate," she says. "People are using them more as fully furnished outdoor rooms."
Light exposure is another factor to consider, Dokken says. Want a shady summer retreat? Consider the north side of the house or an area sheltered under a cool canopy of trees. Looking for some outdoor access to winter sun? Head to the south side or a hot corner of the yard.
"And remember to think about the light requirements of the plants you want to use, too," she says.
Grapes and climbing roses prefer full sun, for example, while climbing hydrangea and clematis can take some shade.
Finally, Dokken recommends homeowners place the structure where it can be enjoyed from both outside and inside the home.
"I've stood in a second story bathtub to make sure the view was just right," she says. "Remember you will spend just as much -- or more -- time looking at the structures from inside your home as outside."
Consider Maintenance
Dokken advises homeowners to get honest with themselves about how much time and energy they want to spend on maintaining their outdoor structures when choosing materials and finishes.
"White is beautiful," she says. "But it's also high maintenance. I try to steer people away from all white unless they have the time for it."
When she works with wood, Dokken reaches for reclaimed lumber instead of new when possible -- both because the denser old growth stands up better against the elements and reusing it keeps it out of the landfill.
"I like to use green building principles," she says. "It saves money and saves the environment."
Composites building products are gaining ground as the garden material of choice thanks to their ease of care, Dokken says.
"Composites have come a long way from the first generation," she says. "The colors and textures look so much better now."
While they will need a yearly scrubbing to remove dirt and mildew, they don't need to be sealed on an annual basis like wood structures do. Additionally, composites make rot and insect damage issues of the past.
If plants will be trained onto the structure, Dokken urges homeowners to keep their maintenance needs in mind as well.
"Wisteria is beautiful," she says. "But you really have to stay on top of it or it can destroy your structure. It can even bend rebar!"
Plan Ahead
Dokken, whose work is often installed as part of a larger landscape project, says paying a landscape designer or other professional to develop a long-term plan for the entire yard is money well spent.
"It actually will save you time and money in the long run," she says. "And most people don't have the budget to do everything at once. That way, you know what you're working toward and you can do it in stages."
Sometimes Dokken installs her own work. Other times contractors build the structures based on her plans. She also builds partially assembled kit structures for do-it-yourselfers who have the time and talent to do the installation work themselves.
Prices range from around $500 for a simple structure and into the thousands for more elaborate ones.
Large or small, modest or elaborate, Dokken advises every home gardener include at least one garden structure in their landscape.
"Our society is way too stressed," she says. "Everyone needs a place where they can go and unwind."
