Decorating Your Garden With A Garden Arch

When you are putting together a garden it is easy to get focused on the plants and not put any emphasis on the hard structures of your garden, but the hard structures can make all of the difference.  From resin garden statues, to garden fencing, to garden arches, the hard elements of your garden will serve to both showcase your personality and show off your plants.

When you are looking particularly at garden arches, you will find that there are not only many to styles to choose from, but also many materials as well.  How effective they are in your garden depends on how you use them in your space, and what kind of plants you grow on them.

Garden arches should always lead somewhere or have a seat under them for the greatest impact.  Here are some examples and how to use them effectively.

As you can see in the picture above this garden uses a simple metal garden arch to great effect. You can hardly see the arch, but the roses are spectacular and provide a beautiful way to guide both the eye and the feet along this path.  This is one of the classic garden design principles.

Metal arches are great for this because they can be very sturdy, which is good because roses are very heavy. Notice also, how there are other elements along this path including some beatiful green bushes at about half the height of the arch. This is very effective.

When you use a wooden garden arch along with cottage type plants as in this picture it produces a more casual feel.  This is a great way to go if you have a cottage, craftsman, or country style house as this look will blend seemlessly with your house. 

You'll also notice that this arch leads back to an open lawn and shed.  This is a very effective use of a garden arch.  Once again you see bushes (this time hydrangeas) about half the size of the arch in the foreground.

Here is another great way to use wooden garden arches.  You may not have this much room in your home garden, but you can use 3 to five pergola type arches to create a similar effect as what is in this photo.  This works particularly well with and asian themed garden and capecod or modern style homes.

When you are going for a dramatic effect like this you want the arches to be front and center and to keep the plants to a minimum.

When you install a smaller front garden and a garden arch that has a gate leading to a larger back yard and garden you will make your guests feel welcome and your home feel inviting.  When you use materials like cast iron (as in this picture) it gives your home an old world feel.  This works especially well with older homes made out of brick or field stone.

As you can see from the photos garden arches can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your garden.  Installing one will give your garden a real eyepopping boost.  Just follow one of these rules.  Your arch either needs to:

1. Lead somewhere
2. Or be someplace to sit

Happy gaardening!