By Katie Lamar Jackson | March 2007

• Intro
• Function vs. Form
• The Technical Aspects
• Download the FULL article as a

The Technical Aspects

A garden gate should be at least three feet wide, and up to four feet in width. If you want a wider gate space, consider putting in a double-sided gate and definitely plan to provide extra support from the gate posts.

Gate posts should be sturdy, straight and plumb and should be sunk at least two feet into the ground—three feet for wider or heavier gates—and perhaps even reinforced with concrete footings. Make sure you use treated lumber if you are using wooden posts so they won’t rot or be taken out by termites.

An abundance of gate building plans exist, so look for them in bookstores, garden centers, through your local Extension System office and on the Web. And plan to buy all your gate building supplies at one time so you won’t be running back and forth to the store too often. This will also ensure that you have matched the hardware (hinges and latches) to the design and support needs of your gate.

Katie Jackson is a writer, editor and photographer for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Auburn University College of Agriculture, with more than 25 years of experience reporting on science, agriculture and the environment.