How to Plant a Garden Arbor

Climbing, flowering vines are wonderful additions to any garden by extending the beauty upward. Vines will climb on almost anything, but a garden arbor or trellis introduces an important architectural element to the garden design. Arbors can be used as dividers between garden rooms, as structures for a hanging garden or to produce shade for a sitting area. Here's how to plant a garden arbor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on an arbor or trellis for your garden. There are many types and designs of arbors made of wood, plastic, wire or metal. Choose a size and design appropriate for the vine or vines you intend to use.

2. Anchor your trellis or arbor to the ground and to other surrounding structures.

3. Place the arbor in an area where the plants will receive at least four hours of sunshine daily for maximum blooming. There are some shade-loving vines, but most flowering vines prefer sun.

4. Chose attractive and fragrant vines for your arbor. Many beautiful vines are available. Some excellent climbing plants and vines are clematis, climbing roses, trumpet vines, honeysuckle, wisteria, bougainvillea, grapes, ivy, kiwi, jasmine and many others. Arbors full of fragrant flowers are wonderful by doorways, outside windows and by seating areas.

5. Don't limit yourself to just one vine. Put two or three different varieties together on an arbor to give a variety of colorful blooms.

6. Train the plants to climb by securing the canes or vines to the garden arbor or trellis with wire, twist ties or other specially made fasteners.

7. Inquire about the care and pruning requirements of your climbing vines. Ask the experts at a nearby nursery or garden center.

8. Remove dead flowers from the vines to keep the garden arbor looking beautiful.