@GardenerSuze, the only thing I would say about wooden arches in the light of our own experience is that they don't seem to last much longer than 10 years or so before the bottom rots. I made the mistake of planting a Zephirine Drouhin rose on mine and twining it around one upright and along the cross bar. One upright is now wobbly and it's not going to be easy disentangling the rose! I will probably have to cut it down to about 3 ft and start again using a metal arch like my other arch in the front garden.
I inherited a wooden arch when I moved here nearly 10 years ago @GardenerSuze. This year it moved when I leaned on it, with an audible crack! It had rotted at the base. If there's a wooden arch that can be inserted in metal footings, that might work. I replaced mine with a metal arch which is zinc galvanised steel and much lighter. It has integrated metal trellis panels, making it easier for climbers like Clematis to grow up. The wooden arch rather dominated my lower garden, the metal one is more subtle. It depends whether you want the arch itself to be a feature or prefer to see the plants that grow up it. Cost is also a consideration. My metal arch was rather an extravagance but I had a similar one in my previous property and it suited my small garden. I was pleased to see them still in production!
A landscape gardener has taken a look, I mentioned a path going all the way down the garden and he suggested the arches as a possible idea. With the large pot at the end. He liked the idea of the Calamagrostis all along the wall border and also the deep west facing border. He knows I want to plant it myself and I have been able to give him ideas of what I would like to do. His skill amoungst many others is the hard landscaping together with dealing with the slight slope . I have every confidence he will have much to add. We have discussed a raised bed close to the house to grow some of my favourite plants that prefer a free draining soil. Also a tree at the bottom of the garden as part of the North facing bed. There is alot of red brick which is lovely Nandinia Fire Power and a grass from my old garden Pannicum Mum's Best Red will work in the west facing border too. He also suggested that the raised bed or beds are of a different material.
@Lizzie27 Thankyou for pointing that out I do have some reservations. I guess it is just the same as a fence post. As you know it can take years for a climber to settle in the ground before climbing anyway. Also I would think there are limits on what will successfully grow on them?
@Plantminded I love your beautiful photos your clematis is a beauty Etolie Violette may be? Certainly a possible if I do go with some arches.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Yes, the clematis is Etoile Violette @GardenerSuze. I had to give it the Chelsea chop this year when replacing the old arch and it has flowered the best ever!
Thank you very much @borgadr, that’s very kind of you.
As one who (13 years on) is now having to decide what to do about the wooden fence posts and raised (timber surround) beds put in as part of our original landscaping - I would advise steering clear of purely wooden supports etc.
I have several metal obelisks & frames from Harrods Horticultural which are fairly expensive to buy but look as good as the day I bought them 10 years ago.
I do like wooden posts and I had some rotten wooden ones replaced with concrete ones but had them encased in a wooden surround which finishes 6" clear of the ground. Result is what appears to be a chunky wooden post but 10 years on shows absolutely no sign of rotting.
So good to have a reliable 'can do' landscaper...🙂
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
@Topbird Thanks for adding your thoughts. I have taken a quick look at the Harrods website and I will take a longer look tomorrow. I think it is important to look at as many thoughts and ideas before making what will be a big investment for us. I was interested to read about your concrete posts covered inwood new to me.
It was the first time I had met this landscaper, although he is local to me. He was knowledgable and down to earth in his approach! I am looking forward to his thoughts. I have ideas of my own so he won't be doing the kind of in depth drawings that might be more helpful to someone who has no idea what they want from their garden. He probably thought I had too many ideas and he may have to sort out the best ones!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
would say about wooden arches in the light of our own experience is that they don't seem to last much longer than 10 years
I inherited a wooden arch when I moved here nearly 10 years ago... The wooden arch rather dominated my lower garden, the metal
one is more subtle. It depends whether you want the arch itself to be a
feature or prefer to see the plants that grow up it.
I echo what others have said. I wanted a wooden structure, but in reality would already have had to replace it at least once. The metal arch I put in is pretty much like the day it went in 15 years ago. I think the wooden arbour would have been a chunky feature in itself, that would have over-dominated my small garden and blocked a fair amount of light. It would have be chunky to be at all robust. I agree Harrod and Agriframes are excellent companies, offering ten year guarantees.
My thought would be to try and find a finish on the metal that you like. When I was looking there only really seemed to be a kind of steel grey tone or a black finish. Both of these can look super modern, and if your garden does not have that style, it can feel like a clash. I see they offer now do a rust-coloured finish on some models that would disappear into the background more easily - I would personally love that.
@SalixGold Thankyou I have just taken a look and I do like the idea of a more rustic frame. In my old garden I had a rustic obelisk. I was never sure what to grow up it until I grew Sanguisorba Cangshan Cranberry that got to 6ft. I actually grew it inside the obelisk and it worked. When I left a few weeks ago taking out the obelisk could have caused the Sanguisorba to collapse so I left it behind. Obelisks somewhere in the plan might be another idea and like you I love anything rustic. Some plants with orangey tones can look amazing with rustic supports or even planted nearby. Also Maroons and dark blues.
If anyone has any good planting ideas for metal arches I would love to hear of more. Clematis Etoile Violette and R Zephirine Drouhin have been mentioned. Maybe Clematis Bill Mackenzie? I didn't grow clematis in my old garden because of the thick clay. Not so bad here especially as I plan to do alot of work to the soil. @clematisdorset Yes clay again but this time I am more hopeful that I will be able to grow a wider variety of plants.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
On the other side of my arch I'm growing Clematis Golden Tiara Kugotia, it's a tangutica with yellow flowers. It's just about to flower. The seedheads are said to look good over winter. For your arch @GardenerSuze, have a look at the range of metal wirework arches from Garden Requisites in Bath. They are available in different finishes. Lots of other attractive garden features to explore on their website!
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We have discussed a raised bed close to the house to grow some of my favourite plants that prefer a free draining soil. Also a tree at the bottom of the garden as part of the North facing bed. There is alot of red brick which is lovely Nandinia Fire Power and a grass from my old garden Pannicum Mum's Best Red will work in the west facing border too. He also suggested that the raised bed or beds are of a different material.
@Lizzie27 Thankyou for pointing that out I do have some reservations. I guess it is just the same as a fence post. As you know it can take years for a climber to settle in the ground before climbing anyway. Also I would think there are limits on what will successfully grow on them?
@Plantminded I love your beautiful photos your clematis is a beauty Etolie Violette may be? Certainly a possible if I do go with some arches.
Thank you very much @borgadr, that’s very kind of you.
I have several metal obelisks & frames from Harrods Horticultural which are fairly expensive to buy but look as good as the day I bought them 10 years ago.
I do like wooden posts and I had some rotten wooden ones replaced with concrete ones but had them encased in a wooden surround which finishes 6" clear of the ground. Result is what appears to be a chunky wooden post but 10 years on shows absolutely no sign of rotting.
So good to have a reliable 'can do' landscaper...🙂
It was the first time I had met this landscaper, although he is local to me. He was knowledgable and down to earth in his approach!
I am looking forward to his thoughts. I have ideas of my own so he won't be doing the kind of in depth drawings that might be more helpful to someone who has no idea what they want from their garden. He probably thought I had too many ideas and he may have to sort out the best ones!
Use code: 23RDRGW
Obelisks somewhere in the plan might be another idea and like you I love anything rustic. Some plants with orangey tones can look amazing with rustic supports or even planted nearby. Also Maroons and dark blues.
If anyone has any good planting ideas for metal arches I would love to hear of more.
Clematis Etoile Violette and R Zephirine Drouhin have been mentioned. Maybe Clematis Bill Mackenzie? I didn't grow clematis in my old garden because of the thick clay.
Not so bad here especially as I plan to do alot of work to the soil.
@clematisdorset Yes clay again but this time I am more hopeful that I will be able to grow a wider variety of plants.