Arbors & Arches

Location

• Arbors and arches placed at the entrance to a property, pathway, back yard or pool provide an inviting welcome to the area. They can be transitional structures, much like doorways, from one landscape area to another. Arbors can be used on patios or in yards and, when furnished with outdoor chairs and small tables, can delineate an outdoor gathering or dining area. A roof covered with flowers also provides shade on a sunny day.

Materials

• Arbors and arches are available in such materials as wrought iron, cedar wood, vinyl, aluminum, copper and heavy-duty plastic. Perhaps the most-used material is wood, especially cedar wood, which is insect- and moisture-resistant. Vinyl is gaining in popularity because it is maintenance-free and will not fade. The strongest material forming the sturdiest structure is iron, and a powder coating makes it weather-proof. Copper is very sturdy and, over time, turns greenish.

Sizes and Styles

• Arbors should be wide enough for a person to walk comfortably through and beneath it, without vegetation brushing against him --- at a minimum, 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. Arbors can be as deep as desired. A furnished, gathering area for socializing would require a larger space --- 12 feet or more. Arbor styles can be freestanding or attached to a structure, like a house or poolside changing room. The sides can be latticed or simple pillars.

Flowers

• Climbing roses, wisteria, bougainvillea and clematis are all wonderful choices for decorating the arch or arbor. Most plants need to be tied to the structure. The canes of climbing roses, with a growth habit more horizontal than vertical, should be bent and tied horizontally as the plant climbs for maximum blooms. Take care that flowers don't gather on the top of the structure, leaving the sides bare of foliage and flowers. Sometimes aggressive pruning can correct this.