Adding a garden arbor to suit your personality offers endless options for adding appeal, a place to sit, and shade in a sunny garden.
Arbors are the oft overlooked middle child of landscaping structures. They belong to a group of three major types of structures placed in the garden. These are trellises, arbors, and pergolas--the arbor being a pleasant medium between the two.
If you are the handyman type, you may wish to build your own one-of-a-kind creation. Plans for garden arbors can be found online or in the library. They are a perfect base to begin planning your garden style.
Before you begin, consider the type of garden arbor that suits your personality. Arbors can be arched or flat on top with a peaked roof and even planting boxes off to the sides. They can come with built-in seats or built-in storage. Complex or simple in design, it's your choice.
If you prefera Zen theme, then an arbor with a flat roof and red stain would add that special touch. Consider an arbor with bamboo for a simple rustic style.
A masculine arbor offers a serious tone and is created with heavier pieces of wood stained a dark brown. You may also choose cedar, which is very popular for use outdoors as it naturally repels insects and has a natural feel to it.
Once your arbor is built, you can begin vining your special plants on the garden arbor to suit your personality.
- Wisteria sinensis or Chinese Wisteria. This vining plant gives prolific drooping cluster blooms that are perfect for the serene Zen garden.
- Hedera helix or English Ivy. The name says it all.
- Jasminum uniform or Winter Jasmine. If you find yourself missing the greenery of summer in the cold months, this plant will help ease your pains as the vines stay green in the iciest winters.
- Ipomoea quamoclit L. or Morning Glories. These fast growing vines will cover the new arbor in a jiffy for any impatient gardeners. They are also annuals and will reseed themselves each year.
- Pisum sativum or the Pea Plant. This and other vining veggies will make great use of the arbor for the practical gardener.
It may take time to properly train vining plants along the wooden slates of an arbor, but once settled the look is wonderful. Soon you will have a garden arbor to suit your personality and reflect your own personal gardening style.
