Give your yard a boost of style and added function with a beautiful garden arbor.
Arbors can be elaborately covered with floral vining or simple structures that keep the focus on architectural style.
The arbors dark gray finish lets the bright flowers take center stage.
Credit: Laurie Black
Spruce Up a Picket Fence
Dress up a plainpicket fencewith a stylish garden arbor.
The gated fence keeps pets in and adds privacy to this front entryway.
Here, two elegant columns are topped with a wide arch to enhance this gardens entrance.
Credit: Rinne Allen
A lowpicket fenceseparates the garden from the rest of the yard, making the tall arbor structure especially striking.
Boost the Greenery
Dress up the front yardwith garden arbor ideas for a memorable entrance.
Choose an arbor that fits yourhouses styleand scale for the most impact.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Emulate Formal Garden Style
A garden arbor is a classic element in traditionallandscaping designs.
Place an arbor over a walkway to your garden to instantly elevate its appearance.
Your siding, roof, andexterior trim colorsand textures can offer guidance.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Here, a gray-washed wood arbor contrasts with richred sidingwhile picking up the tones in the wood shingle roof.
The arbor is the gardens first entryway, with a double-door fence just beyond.
If you’re using an arbor for vines or fruits, durable vinyl is a great choice.
Credit: Matthew Benson
It can support plant weight, pots, and withstand the elements over time.
Plant Climbing Roses
There are many garden arbor ideas to support your favorite climbing plants.
Train climbing roses over a garden arbor to create a dreamy display of cascading blooms.
Credit: Michael Jensen
Look for theclimbing rosevarieties best suited to your area (not all roses grow well in all regions).
Find a Private Spot
A garden arbor makes acharming addition to any patio.
Place an arbor across the pathway to your patio to define the entrance in style.
Credit: Andrew Drake
For added privacy, train vines along the sides and top to help block the view.
This structure transitions from the yard to theflagstone seating areatucked away for a quiet spot to enjoy the afternoon.
Keep the style and scale of your structure consistent with the rest of your deck for a unified look.
Credit: Alison Barnes Martin
Be sure to match thewood stainso the arbor doesnt look out of place.
Climbing plants along the top and sides is good for addeddeck privacy.
A pergola-style arbor like this is an opportunity to add hanging planters to your landscape.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Together, they give a sense of enclosure, especially if you grow vines on them.
This trick can also create adramatic entranceto your garden.
Choose plants wiselyfruit-growing or leafy plants need frequent cleanup.
Credit: John Granen
Regularly train new growth to keep the arbor neat.
Build a Wooden Garden Arbor
Give your eyes a place to go up in the garden.
Here, a wooden arbor nestles in a lushperennial borderto provide structure and height.
Credit: Tim Murphy
Develop a Special Side Yard
Stuck with a narrow side yard?
Dont let the extra room go unused.
Install a simple arbor arch to help make it a destination instead of a pass-through.
Credit: Andrew Drake
Embrace Cottage Style
Complete acottage-style gardenwith a charming arbor that spills over with blooms.
Choose a traditional white design to make the flowers pop, like this one placed across a front walkway.
White lattice installed along the sides of the arbor continues thecottage aesthetic.
Credit: David McDonald
Paint the Garden Arbor
Garden arbors are traditionally painted white or left their natural wood color.
However, you’re free to make yours eye-catching by painting it abold, bright color.
Be sure to choose a hue that stands out against the surrounding greenery.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Here, a crisp white arbor rises out of aboxwood hedgeand is crowned dramatically with climbing roses.
To add even more drama, choose aflowering hedgethat will infuse the entryway with colorful blooms.
Encourage Feathered Visitors
Invite birds to visit an arbor to make it more than a decorative element.
Credit: Ernie Braun
Securebirdhousesalong the sides or top of the arbor to create a welcoming perch for feathered friends.
Tuck smaller houses in for a subtle effect or use them as a focal point.
Birds are essential to a gardens health since they pollinate flowers.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Pressure-treated lumber is budget-friendly and resists decay and insects, but it contains chemicals.
Opt for cedar, metal, or vinyl if you’re planning to cover your arbor in edible vines.
Tailor Your Arbor to Your Garden
Choose an arbor that complements yourgardens overall themefor maximum appeal.
Credit: Janet Mesic Mackie
The classic theme continues with climbing roses to create the perfect vignette.
An arbor with simple architecture and straight lines would work for moremodern landscaping.
Go for Asian Touches
Look to other cultures for garden arbor ideas.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
An unfussy garden arbor can help you achieve anAsian-style entrance to your garden.
Look for an arbor with clean, simple lines and natural color.
Avoid overly ornate styles; in Asian garden design, simpler is usually better.
Credit: Eric Roth
Thisweeping larchis a perfect plant to clothe an arbor with elegantly draping branches.
Before planting, ensure your garden arbor is sturdy enough to support the weight.
A garden arbor with a bench underneath provides a lovely spot to enjoy the view.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
Add plenty offlowering vinesoverhead to provideshady seating.
