How to Design With a Garden Arbor

Determine the material that you will use to build the arbor. Many arbors are made out of lumber, but there are other materials, live vinyl and metal, that will look just as good and provide a bit more longevity as they are not susceptible to rot and disease. A metal arbor may be particularly useful if you plan on hanging heavy plants from your arbor, as the weight might bring down a weaker wooden structure.

Find the perfect place for the arbor. No two landscapes are going to have the same needs, and an arbor can go just about anywhere, but keep in mind that the arbor is generally going to be the centerpiece of the area where you install it. You can place an arbor right off a house, to act like a porch, or you can place it near your pool, to give a shady area for congregation. Arbors can often work well off on their own, as a small island in the sea of your landscape or as a private oasis tucked away in a remote corner of the landscape.

Provide access to and from the arbor by means of a stone, wood or brick path. Since your arbor is really an outdoor room, you'll want access to it that doesn't have you walking all over your grass. A well-manicured path will not only provide access to the arbor, but will add a touch of class to the entire landscape.

Surround the arbor area with the highlights of your landscape. Your arbor is designed to be a place where people can sit and enjoy your landscape, so place any particularly important features, like waterfalls or ponds, close to the arbor.

Attach trellises on the side of your arbor, to make the structure more like a room. These trellises will also provide a place for climbing plants to grow up and decorate your arbor. Install up to three walls with trellises, depending on how enclosed you want the arbor to be. You can even install a trellis above the arbor, to provide more shade than the arbor's open roof.

Choose a plant, or a number of plants, that you want to have growing on your arbor. Climbing plants will grow up the side of your arbor, on a trellis, and many of them will grow over the top of the arbor, proving a bit of natural shade. Vines like clematis, jasmine, morning glory and honeysuckle are excellent choices. Some vines, like vitus and wisteria, look good but can become very heavy after a lot of growth and can take down a poorly constructed arbor. With all vine plants, be sure that you prune regularly, to avoid have the plant take over the landscape.