Homemade Garden Gates

Materials

• You can find the materials you need to construct a garden gate at any home improvement or hardware store. You will need 2-inch-by-2-inch wood for the gate's frame and flat wood boards for the front of the gate. Choose any type of wood for the boards that will match the style of your garden, so long as it is durable enough to survive outdoor weather. The amount of wood you need will depend on the size of your gate. If in doubt, purchase more than you expect to use in case you make any mistakes during the gate's construction.

  In addition to wood, purchase two hinges and both thick and thin nails. You will also need a hammer and, unless your wood is pre-cut, a saw.

Construction

• Construct a rectangular frame for the gate with the 2-inch-by-2-inch wood. Use the thick nails to attach the beams. The frame should be as wide as you plan for the finished gate to be, but 3 inches shorter. Add a horizontal beam through the center of the rectangular frame for support. If the frame feels too flimsy even with the horizontal beam, add two diagonal beams, one in the top section of the frame and one in the bottom section.

  Cut your flat boards to a length 3 inches longer than the frame's height. Panel them vertically across the front of the frame, extending over the bottom edge of the frame by 1 inch and the top edge of the frame by 2 inches. Attach the boards to the frame using thin nails.

  Nail the hinges to one side of the frame, and connect them to the fence or gatepost in your garden. Make sure to leave at least a quarter inch of clearance above the ground so that your gate will swing freely.

  After you have finished constructing your homemade garden gate, improve the appearance and durability by applying protective wood primer and paint. You may wish to remove the gate from the hinges temporarily to make the painting process easier.