As a cost-conscious yet appearance-focused homeowner, I’m always trying to find little ways to dress up something that’s too basic. Of course, that doesn’t mean I never make big enhancements, but most of us have to space those out and save up. In between the new roof or concrete patio addition, it’s nice to find low-budget items that still give a sense of stepping it up!
All that is to say, one of my very favorite enhancements is the classic arbor or trellis! If you aren’t into gardening, these beauties stand alone as statement pieces, and if you ARE into making things grow (like me!), they’re the perfect palette for some climbing clematis (have it) or grapevines (have it). Obviously, the more sturdy and substantial you make these additions, the longer they’ll last and the more impact they’ll make—which is why hiring a contractor like Quality Built Exteriors ensures a custom fit and customized look.
And if you’re, say, still saving up to replace your siding, you can get by with something inexpensive from a big box store or the internet. In my case, I recently had my fence and deck power-washed and restained, so I didn’t have a lot of budget left to hire out my arbor dreams last summer. So the sets I installed in my back yard and side yard are straight-up DIY jobs—which I’ll share along with other ideas below.
Why the obsession with arbors and trellises? I love how they add charm and break the monotony in the line of a fence or the long bare side of a house. I love how they bring plants upward to eye level as the vines curl around their new supports. Arbors and trellises can be purchased in wood, metal or vinyl… great for smaller climbing fruits and flowers. If you want to grow larger vines, consider a gazebo or pergola for sturdier options that serve double duty by also providing shade and entertainment space.
Grab a drink and check out these fun ideas to get your creative juices (and climbing vines) flowing:
Simple Support Structure
This time of year, every big box store carries a huge variety of basic arches, trellises and lattice supports for your climbing vines. They come in every shape, size, color and price point, so the options are endless. Some high-end versions come complete with built-in benches or garden boxes, for a no fuss solution.
Unconventional or Vintage
If you want to really stand out—while saving a buck—try upcycling! You can create unique climbing structures from antiques like a metal headboard, bicycle or ladder. You can also add old trim to a piece of lattice or replace the glass from an antique mirror with chicken wire instead. In my back yard, I salvaged the beautifully aged wooden ladder from my now-teenagers’ old swingset as a blanket hanger, but just as easily could have used it for a trellis. The possibilities are endless.
Undercover Utilities
Fast-growing climbing flowers are one of the easiest and prettiest ways to disguise unsightly utilities. Surround the equipment with a simple lattice or a more detailed trellis to support the plants of your choice. (But if your appliances put off large amounts of heat, keep that in mind when choosing which vines to grow around them.)
Or get REALLY creative… can the eyesore itself become a plant support? If utility poles or downspouts are within your view, make them part of the landscape by planting a flowering vine at their base.
Pretty Privacy Panels
Nosy neighbors nearby? Yucky yard over yonder (you should see the jungle next door to me!)?
With the right, strategically placed support system, climbing vines make great privacy screens. Check out this framed wire fencing or this lattice with built-in planter boxes for a few ideas. Be sure to pick fuller, fast-growing plants with big blooms or larger leaves for a more immediate solution.
Wonderful Walkways
Trellises help draw the eye in and invite visitors to explore further into your yard, so, they’re a great choice for defining a garden path that leads from your house to other outdoor areas. Space several trellises together along the path to help better define the walkway and give it character and structure This is also the perfect place to hang string or solar lights for ambiance and safety.
Culinary Connection
A fun way to provide support for climbing fruits and veggies, such as beans, cucumbers and kiwis, is to connect two raised garden beds with an arch. This technique can be implemented throughout your garden area to add visual interest, or it can be used at the gate of the garden itself to create a more eye-catching entrance. It’s an ideal DIY project, as it can be accomplished easily with old metal fencing or chicken wire.
Enchanted Entrance
When I decided to put in a she-shed at the back of my yard, I wanted the area to truly feel like a gateway to another place. I bought an assembly-required wooden arbor, installed it, and painted it to match the trim on my she-shed. I planted clematis around it and let it take root. It’s a favorite feature in my back yard now!
Fabulous Fences
Every fence has a gate, but there’s is no rule saying it must be a standard one. Place an arch or arbor over your gate to create an instantly elegant entrance to any defined space, such as vegetable gardens, courtyards or seating areas. This is the place where big blooms will really shine, drawing visitors in to stop and smell the roses before they pass through. Even without plants, a fence trellis makes a statement all on its own. Quality Built Exteriors regularly incorporates arbors into the fences they build, such as the one above.
Simple Metal
I have a vegetable patch in the front corner of my back yard behind the fence, but got more than I bargained for when I planted two varieties of grapes there! They quickly grew beyond the two wood trellises I had installed, and crept into the front yard. It was nearby where I had already planted a raspberry and a blackberry bush, again thinking the metal obelisks I placed over them would be adequate to contain the vines…. Which then overgrew like crazy! So, this spring, I ordered two simple black arbors, coated them in rust-resistant spray, and installed one over the blackberry bush and the other below the grape vines. You can tell they were added after the fact, since the vines move in unusual directions in spots, but I can retrain them next year, and in the meantime, they serve double duty of holding the vines aloft AND adding some drama to a forgotten bit of side yard!
Garage Greatness
One place you may not think of to grow climbing vines is around your garage. But garages deserve a little flair and attention too. Install or build a basic pergola structure over the garage door and use flower beds or pots at the base for your plants. Keep it simple with English Ivy or give it a huge splash of color with bright clematis or bougainvillea.
Delightful Dining
One of the best ways to incorporate climbing plants into your landscape is by growing vines on a pergola over an outdoor dining space. During the day, the area will be nicely shaded from the hot sun. For evening soirees, hang a few string lights or even a chandelier for instant ambiance.
Edible plants make the most sense here, such as grapes, kiwi, or berries, as they are beautiful and go with the dining theme. Try to avoid fragrant flowering vines, such as honeysuckle, jasmine or wisteria, or you may end up with more bees than people at your party.
Triple-Duty Teepee
Want to get your younger kids outdoors more this summer and involve them with gardening? Let their imaginations soar by building them a bean teepee that supports your plants and puts your kids in touch with nature at the same time.
My friend told me some of her fondest childhood memories are of picking and shelling beans with her sister in their bean teepee, while pretending they were princesses, locked away in a castle. This simple DIY structure and related activities likely saved hours of work and blisters for her mother and gave her a few minutes of peace and quiet, too!
Firepit Fun
If you are lucky enough to have a built-in firepit or outdoor fireplace, why not make it even more inviting by adding a pergola and vines for a bit of shade and ambiance? For a hangout spot you and your family never want to leave, try incorporating hammocks or swings around your firepit and hanging string lights over the space as well.
Whether you’re looking to support your plants, create shade, add privacy, increase functionality, or enhance the overall design of your outdoor space, arches, trellises, and pergolas are versatile structures that can serve a variety of purposes. If you’re ready to add one of these structures to your yard, the experienced team at Quality Built Exteriors is ready to help. Call them today for a free estimate.