Landscaping with Arbors

A great landscaping tool to increase the charm of your yard while adding structure is to add arbors. They are used to add shade, draw attention, or enhance an entrance or gateway. Arbors come in various sizes and shapes, and are made out of different materials. They can be functional or purely for decoration. And they can make the difference you're looking for in your yard. 

First, you might consider adding an arbor somewhere you could use a little more shade, like over an eating area or above an attractive bench. In the case of the latter especially, this will draw people's eyes to the area so make sure it's worthy of such attention. More traditionally, though, an arbor is used to invite people to walk through. This could be the inviting entrance at the front of your property or it could nicely frame the path that connects your front yard with your backyard. It could also serve as a gateway to a different area of your yard that is separated, such as a fenced-off flower garden or vegetable garden.

Next, where you choose to put your arbor, and the purpose it serves, determines the size, shape, and even material you choose. For example, if you're using your arbor as an initial entrance to your property, it should be wide enough for two people to walk through side-by-side, and tall enough that even hanging vines will not be dangling in their faces. The practical part of the shape of your arbor has to do with whether or not people need to walk through it easily. Beyond that, the design of the structure itself should match the architectural style of other elements in your yard, including your house itself. Is it modern? Is it romantic? Is it rustic? Your arbor should stand out because of what it adds to your yard, not because it doesn't look like it belongs.

The material your arbor is made out of also part of its style. However, if you plan to plant strong climbing plants up your arbor, it is going to have to be sturdy. A cedar or redwood arbor with 4 x 4 posts, secured with screws is your best bet. The screws are an important touch as the strength of vines or freezing weather can pop nails out. Saying wood arbors are sturdier than metal ones might be surprising but even seven-foot steel arbors can be pulled right out of the ground by a clinging plant in a gust of wind.

And what kinds of plants are good to embellish your arbor? Rambler, climber, and even shrub roses are excellent choices as long as you train them to follow your arbor's shape, cutting off limbs that branch off in the wrong direction. Wisterias and woodier clematis like montanas are also beautiful options as well as annual and flowering vines such as the trumpet vine or food-bearing plants such as grapes or peas. However, you aren't going to add climbing plants to your arbor if it's a uniquely decorative one, like those made out of natural materials like branches or horns. Whatever you choose, your arbor will be certain to add dramatically to the landscaping in your yard.