Plant Support Arches

About Plant Supports

• Climbing vines such as roses, wisteria, clematis, grapevines and types of ivy all possess physical methods of extending their length. They may have curling, twining stems that loop onto nearby trees or shrubs or suckers that contain a biological adhesive that makes them stick to walls or bark. Other plants have aerial rootlets or small hooks that grasp onto supports. Plant supports such as trellises, arbors and pergolas help to keep these plants in check and display them in the most attractive way. Arched structures allow the vines to meander over the tops for an extended climbing area, maximizing the visual impact of these garden plants.

Arched Trellises

• Trellises are simple, flat supports that generally rest against walls or the sides of houses to control and contain climbing plants. These can be as simple as wood slats nailed together into a lattice shape or as complicated as metal welded into intricate scrollwork with an arched top. A trellis should have a number of intermediate crossbars to hold the twining stems. Large openings between the slats may not offer sufficient support for vines that grow heavy with fruit or flowers.

Arched Arbors

• An arbor is like two narrow trellises held together by a straight top section or arched top. Arbors are often set in gates to provide a natural-looking walkway strewn with vines or as an entranceway to a path. They are generally constructed of wood or metal and provide cross-sections on which climbing or twining vines can attach themselves for a dramatic, cascading garden accent. Arbors are available at garden centers and home improvement stores or can be constructed by do-it-yourselfers with some material and a few tools.

Arched Pergolas

• A pergola is an extended arbor, in that it takes the basic structure of the gateway arbor and makes it into a long, covered walkway. Pillars along the length of the structure hold the panels or crossbars on which the vines climb. Pergolas often connect different areas on a property, such as from a garden to a pool area. Arched tops provide cool, shaded areas for strolling the yard on hot days and a good support for woody, climbing vines.