Garden Arbors and Trellises

Arbors add style and vertical interest to a garden and take very little work to put up. Add climbers like climatis, honeysuckle, or climbing roses for a garden accent

Choosing a quality garden arbor

Trellis choice and plant choice will influence each other. If you don't plan to train climbers onto the trellis then a lighter structure will do. If you do use plants, keep in mind that vines climb in different ways. Some need flat surfaces, whereas others need cross-bars and the shape of the trellis or arbor will have to match the plants needs. Also consider the weight of the plant you want to grow: almost any structure can support a honeysuckle, but heavy vines such as wisteria are best left for permanent structures. As for material, a trellis of quality wood such as teak, cedar or stainless steel, although it may cost more than other versions, will last for years.

Arbor and Trellis plants

When choosing plants, consider maintenance requirements, how close you'll come to the plant (you may want to choose thornless roses and pleasantly scented plants and avoid plants that continually drop leaves and fruit), and the look from season to season (will you want an evergreen or a vine that looses it leaves to reveal the design of the arbor?) Good climber choices include clematis, honeysuckle, sweet pea, morning glory, climbing hydrangea, jasmine, black-eyed susan vine, and bougainvillea. [See BLI's Climbing Plants for more suggestions.]

Installing the arbor and planting

When placing a trellis near a house or wall, leave space between the trellis and the wall to allow air circulation, which both helps plant growth and protects your home from mildew. When the arbor or trellis is in place, dig a planting hole about six inches away from the support. Plant the flower as usual and water the plant in thoroughly. With fabric plant ties (or, more economically, strips of panty hose) loosely tie the stems of the plant to the support. Check these ties often to be sure they're not cutting into the plant stems. As the plant grows trim -- always with sharp, clean trimmers to prevent disease -- any unevenly growing stems to keep the plant upright. (Plants with woody stems should be trimmed in the autumn to prevent infections.) Don't rush through a pruning job -- any lop-sided work will be very hard to cover up.

Unique garden arbor ideas

Bench arbors placed against a wall (with some breathing room left) create a welcoming seating niche. An arbor against a wall can also frame a gazing ball, a statue on a pedestal, a birdfeeder or a wind-chime, or a hanging basket can be suspended from the center. A pair of statues can frame an entryway arbor. Two or more arbors can be used to create a dome over a path.