One often overlooked landscape feature is the decorative garden structures.
Decorative garden structures set-off areas of your landscape, creating inviting spaces for either quiet contemplation or entertaining. Ask your landscape consultant for suggestions.
Arbors and trellises are usually (but not always!) found along landscape paths. They can indicate a transition to a different landscape feature or include a bench for resting. These European decorative structures add a touch of formality and order to your landscape design.
These garden structures are mainly used for providing shade, anchoring paths and gateways, and adding height to a garden. They have more of a romantic sense. The arbor can hold vines, fruits, and other flowers. Don’t forget about maintenance though! Arbors will require a bit of attention, whether it be cleaning the pathway underneath, or trimming the plant around it.
What is the difference between an arbor and trellis? A trellis is usually a latticework built to support vines or climbing plants. It is a simple panel attached to a side of building, or it can freely stand in a garden. An arbor is more of an archway that has a latticework built into it.
Gazebos and pergolas are garden structures that provide an open yet sheltering space outside. They limit the intensity of the sun while providing a decorative retreat from which to enjoy an unobstructed view of your landscape and the outdoors.
Pergolas support climbing plants, but unlike arbors, they are simply posts supporting a roof-like structure. Pergolas have a lattice structure for the roof to hold the plants. They are seen on a deck or walkway.
Gazebos, on the other hand, do not support climbing plants, but are used for shade and can come in all sizes, colors, and shapes.
One other structure is fencing. Fencing sometimes gets a bad rap because so much of it is poorly done. Instead of cheap box-store fence paneling or chain-link, Clark’s can design a decorative yet practical fence for you that offers privacy, animal containment, and great design while blending perfectly with your home’s architecture and your landscape.
