Creating Garden Rooms Using Trellis', Arbors and Pergolas

There are a multitude of structures to choose from in every shape
and size to fit in with any garden style you choose.  What is the
difference between the three and how do you incorporate them
correctly to create the illusion of having many separate garden
rooms? All three have one thing in common: they are structures
incorporated into gardens to provide a growing place for vining
plants. Here are some tips and idea’s to get you started.

*Trellis’ are typically attached to a wall on a building.
The goal in using a trellis is to create a semblance of living art
on a wall, giving a feeling of comfortable enclosure. Varieties
range between elegant wrought iron works to charming wooden arches
to rustic old ladders situated in whatever shape you desire. I
recently noticed a trellis on a neighboring home that was
constructed of three old wooded rung type ladders. They were
attached to the side of the house like this- TT – with a climbing
rose growing up it. I fell in love as soon as I saw it and am now
looking for either one very long or 3 shorter ladders that I can
create this on the back of our garage in the Pottage over the tea
bed. We just painted it an aqua blue last summer and I can already
imagine a pink, old fashioned climbing rose scaling up it…
always dreaming!

I have several trellis’ in my gardens. Along the side of the front
porch we have two 4×8 sections of lattice attached to one pillar
and the side of the house that my Chinese Wisteria grows on.  I
currently have an old split rail type fence on the back of the
garage (what I am going to replace with the rung ladders) that
again have lattice attached to give the plants something to grow
on.  Along my pergola are trellis’ that the roses and clematis
grow up and over the top. 
Trellis’ can be created by using anything… here are a few ideas
to get you dreaming…
~As mentioned above, old ladders hung in any shape or form you
desire.
~An antique metal head or foot board… imagine that in a lovely
English Cottage garden.
~Purchased lattice from a lumber store are an easy, inexpensive
and attractive trellis.
~Pre-formed trellis’ can be purchased in many lovely designs.
~Create an intricate design using old metal or wooden wagon
wheels.
~If you want an invisible trellis, use green baler twine. This can
be purchased at most lawn and garden stores. Any type of string
will work, but remember you’ll have to replace each year.  Don’t
use natural fibers like jute because they will break down before
the season is over.
~Picket or privacy fences also work as a trellis, whether affixed
to a building or an arbor.
Like I always say, the only limitation is your own imagination!

*Arbors can range from two or four post structures and are
typically constructed of wood or metal.

Both of my arbors are four wooden posts with lattice attached on
the sides and across the top. There is a wide range of variety for
you to choose from here as well.  Once again, your garden style
will determine what kind of structure you will choose.

There are a few other things to consider when designing your
pergola: The length, determine if it will be straight or curving,
the structure material, your ‘floor’, if you’ll have step stones
on the floor and what you will use on the sides and across the top
for your plants to grow up and over. My pergola is about 40′ long
and about six feet wide with 4×4 wooden posts set every eight
feet. We put 2×4’s across the top and bottom and then used
pre-made wooden trellis’ that I purchased at a lumber yard for the
sides. These are attached to the 2×4’s every four feet. I have a
hodge podge of wooden ladders across the top. The side facing the
south is one length but the side to the north has an eight foot
opening, or arbor, that allows you to go off to the right toward
the green houses. If you keep going straight you enter into the
back yard leading you to the patio. My pergola runs between the
Potager and the rose garden.  I primarily have Sweet Autumn
clematis’, a few early blooming clematis’ and several varieties
of  climbing roses growing on it.  I planted a Chinese wisteria on
one of the posts in the back yard. I will have one more post set
to the right of it in the corner of the small herb bed that will
then be a privacy wall for the back yard.

The key to adding these hard scape elements successfully into your
gardens where they become free forms is to plant species that will
create walls and barriers eluding to garden rooms.