Up, up and away!
Adding vertical interest with a tall structure will give any plot a powerful lift
THERE are three imposing timber posts set diagonally across the width of my back garden. Carrying a single crossbar, the direction deviates at one end with a 10ft narrow beam that leads straight up the length of the space to a small square pergola topped with rafter rails.
The structure works hard to earn its keep. It adds vertical interest, leads the eye into the garden and frames the garden from the house. Climbing plants are displayed to perfection and the geometric lines provide architectural interest all year round, not least because it’s been painted dramatic jet black.
Before it was installed, about three years ago, my garden felt a little one-dimensional, with nothing really breaking up a flat, rectangular plot. My funky modern pergola makes such a big difference, providing some much needed structure that changes the overall look of the space.
Of course, pergolas are not the only vertical structures that will help elevate your garden to new heights. There are gazebos, arches, arbours, summerhouses and garden pods. Sheds don’t count as they tend to be utilitarian, rather than blessed with striking good looks.
Simple constructions come with a raft of benefits – they add a strong formal backbone, direct foot traffic and work as punctuation points to disrupt a boringly even landscape. Anything with a roof provides privacy, shelter and makes a welcoming outdoor retreat. All can be used to create focal points.
Wooden and metal arches come in such a wide range of designs, from elaborate to something more modest. Wooden types generally provide a more rustic feel and are ideal straddling a path in a cottage garden. Metal structures provide a more contemporary look.
Those with lattice panels are perfect for scrambling climbers, while ones with open sides make it easy for training the thicker stems of roses. If you want t o site an archway on a patio, over gravel or another hard standing, chose one with integral planters either side to allow climbers or other plants to be grown.
Pergolas have been a mainstay of gardens since antiquity, featuring i n both Egyptian and Roman gardens. They consist of a series of posts supporting an open roof made of rafters, and are usually used to form a tunnel over a path or to create shade above patios, terraces and similar eating areas. Most pergolas are square or rectangular, but I’ve seen models that form a curved walkway and even ones that are circular. Apart from those built from soft or hardwood timber, pergolas can be made from cast iron, powder coated steel or have brick, stone or rendered columns.
Off-the-shelf pergola kits are easy enough to put together for those with moderate DIY skills. Anything more complex, such as a multicolumn walkway, requires more expertise to ensure the structure is stable. If you’re hopeless with flatpack furniture, call in a landscape contractor to help.
Upright structures offer a great opportunity to grow a range of gorgeous climbing plants, such as roses, honeysuckle and wisteria. Cover with scented varieties and you won’t rush underneath, but pause to enjoy the experience. Set plants about 1ft from posts, training stems up wires.
In recent years, so called ‘garden pods’ have become a popular option. Essentially a stand-alone garden building, they come in many forms, from rectangular, glass fronted structures to spherical, rotating models that enable those inside to follow the path of the sun.
Their smart design makes them ideal for contemporary spaces, where they could be used as a summerhouse, home office or swanky potting shed. Ideally, place where you will get some privacy. They generally don’t need planning permission and come ready made, making them easy to install.
Use a pergola, gazebo, archway... anything but a boring old shed