I know I could not.. Have to be taller and stronger ... but I see it done with a post hole digger and it does not look impossible. Goes fast too. And, we have clay. Then the cardboard footing tube goes in the hole, wood posts in that and quick set cement and 10 minutes later..it is hardened.

But I would not do that...I would dig the hole...fill it as above with the tube and cement and screw /bolt a treated wood square into the cement. Attach a matching treated wood square to the bottom of the posts and set that on the cement grounded wood. This way could MOVE it when I want to repair, replace, and take it down for storms. This would only work for small doorway arbor entrances... Not a big installation that is part of the house architecture. Saw it recommended once for smaller structures. Also allows it to be built on ground rather than using ladders.

Still no pergola progress, but we have the area cleaned off and the old corncrib is now gone.

Visualize, I guess. Sorry about the electrical truck in the pic, but they were putting a post in to re-route the electric wires so we could get rid of the corncrib.

There is pergola progress!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guys came this morning, the lumber truck came this morning. They were gone when I got home from work about 3:30...........so this is what was accomplished today. I HOPE these pix post in order, but if they don't I think you can figure the order out.

I see some climbing roses in your future there....

No. I already have a wisteria planted there and it can "climb" on the pergola.

Good choice.

Yes, and even tho the pergola is being constructed of treated wood, I have some heavy plastic covered metal floor sections that were in our baby pig nursery. I got the bright idea to put those 6 flooring pieces on TOP of the pergola for a couple of reasons.......

1. It will be some "non-wood" for the wisteria to climb. I have been told that wisteria is VERY hard on wood. I am hoping that the damn thing won't croak and will, in a couple of years, make it to the top of the pergola. It didn't winterkill............I bought and planted it last June. It was probably at least 6 feet tall then, and grew like crazy last summer. But, I DID water it lots.

2. I'm wanting to hang some shade loving plants in there as I have lost most of my shaded areas for hanging plants. The flooring will be strong enough that I can hang the plants by chain if I want. We also have a couple of hanging chairs we bought at the Philly flower show 2 years ago in anticipation of a pergola.

I think I have a pic of those flooring panels...........yep, I found them. Also the wisteria mid-summer of 2016.

Wisteria is hard on everything. But it's a gorgeous plant so it can be worth the hassle.

Like those floor panels. Those will be perfect for what you are planning.

Except I'm thinking we might have to cut out if we want to hang chains. We'll see what we can do with it when it is done. I could use heavy wire for hanging plants, but not for the chairs.

Nice Anna,
We have Lady Banks yellow roses covering our entryway now ..it grows and covers very fast the purple and yellow might make a good pairing

Progress as of today, Monday, April 4th.

This was the "hole" where, when this was a furnace house, the pumps, electrical, and pipes were located. The SU put some gravel in the bottom to bring the "level" up some, and I will put a couple of potted plants in there. I don't want to plant anything permanent there; the pots will be better for me.

Yvery nice Anna ..looks well made too.
Soon it will be blooming. I would make a lid for that place and stash stuff in there..for gardening and the vines..or for sitting out in that area.

FINALLY a sunny day so the guys could come back and work on the project. They just left for lunch and this is today's progress so far...........

Wonderful space Anna. It will be hard for you to stay away and get the dishes done.

I went out about a half hour ago.................those guys work fast. LOL

Wow - this looks great, and exactly what I would like to have at our place!!

Beautiful! I wasn't aware that the thread existed, or I would have been following along with the progress. It's a gorgeous outdoor space! Congrats! Can't wait to see it with that gorgeous wisteria grown.

I agree with James! When that wisteria grows and you get your hanging plants in there, it's going to be your favorite place to be. I have a simpler one for my cacti. Before I got it they were freezing and burning up in summer, and now they are happy. Mine is just cover for the plants, but I'd love another one like yours for sitting by the pool.

Well, the wisteria will have to co-operate along with that. LOL

I didn't put this on the thread, but I guess I will now............my Mom had a garden arch out in her back yard. My niece, who bought the house with her BF (now her hubby) didn't want it. None of my siblings wanted it or had the room, so I took it. It's seen "years"...........the SU had to fix a couple things on it. Mom also had a birdhouse wired to the top, which we also "brought along for the ride". LOL The SU "re-roofed" it. I ordered a string of tiny solar lights to wind around it. They came yesterday and I put them on this morning. It remains to be seen if they will light up when it gets dark. The "plan" for this summer is to have hyacinth beans growing on it.

I guess technically that this is a "garden structure" too, eh??