How to Landscape With Arbors & Pergolas

Place an arbor over a walkway or within the garden. Arbors come in various depths, so choose one that suits your needs. For a dramatic effect, place multiple arbors in a line to create a passageway to a certain part of the yard or provide shade over a walkway.

Cover the arbor with a flowering vine such as wisteria, clematis, trumpet vine or honeysuckle. Alternatively, use a full foliage vine such as creeping fig or ivy to cover an arbor. Place shrubs such as lilac, butterfly bush or hydrangea around each side of the arbor to incorporate color into the landscape.

Plant flowering vines along each post of a pergola to encourage vertical growth up to the canopy. While plants are young, gently tie a string around the tip of a tendril and tie the string around the post to promote a wrapping growth. In addition to flowering vines, grow lightweight fruits and vegetables such as string beans or berries up and around the pergola.

Place shrubs or boxwood hedges around three sides of a pergola to create a private entertaining area in the landscape. Incorporate additional color to a pergola by hanging flowering baskets from the eaves along all four posts.