Add Style to your Outdoor Space with a Garden Arbor

Garden arbors have been around since Victorian times. They still remain a popular focal point to many outdoor spaces because of their architectural detail, beauty and interest. They add ambience and value to any setting, and can easily become the most talked-about feature of your backyard or garden. 

Considering the material of your Garden Arbor

Garden arbors are constructed of a wide variety of materials, including wood, iron or vinyl.  Each material presents its own set of beauty, advantages, and price points.

·         Wood arbors may be constructed of pressure-treated wood, cedar or teak, just to name a few. Teak is an extremely durable wood that also boasts a high price tag. Cedar is popular, as it can either be stained to maintain its color, or left to weather into a beautiful, silver gray color. Pressure-treated wood can be stained or painted to match your garden décor.

·         Iron or steel arbors are typically powder coated to resist rust. They are a nice addition to a formal garden or outdoor space, and usually have intricate lines and shapes.

·         Vinyl has become a popular choice for arbors, as it is impervious to snow, rain, rot and insect damage. Vinyl arbors also retain their color and are an economical choice. The many different designs and colors available for vinyl arbors make them versatile and easy to match with your outdoor décor or home’s exterior.

·         Steel and vinyl arbors are generally priced from $150 to $400, while high-end teak arbors can cost over $2,000.

• Ideas for incorporating a garden arbor into your landscaping
  

·         Most outdoor arbors are designed in an arch, although some of the more modern styles boast geometric or straight lines. Arbors also often feature lattice work to support climbing plants.

·         A new landscaping trend involves using arbors to define an outdoor room. Many arbors have matching benches, planting boxes and even built-in porch swings to bring your outdoor room together.

·         Consider using an arbor to separate different outdoor zones. Use it as a passageway, or to highlight a portion of your yard. Use an arbor to highlight your garden or to create a dramatic entry point to your garden or outdoor space.

·         Consider honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis, morning glory or grape vines to grow throughout your arbor. These are all hardy, fast-growing, vining plants.

·         Use an arbor to draw the eye upward. An arbor can become a dramatic, vertical focal point, particularly if you have smaller, low-to-the-ground plants and shrubbery. Creating height in your garden immediately adds depth and interest.

·         Make sure your arbor blends in with the aesthetic of your home. Choose a size that will compliment, not overpower, your garden.

·         Ask your local nursery about climbing flowers that attract birds or butterflies. Then sit back and enjoy the show!

·         Use two arbors to define an outdoor space, and then arrange your outdoor furniture around them.

·         For added interest, wind a string of lights through your arbor to instantly create a nighttime focal point.

• Think of an arbor as a frame to grow your garden's canvas.  With the wide range of styles available, the beauty you can create in your garden is endless.