Thanks for taking your time to read our information on garden arches. These can be used in almost any garden, even a small one as they can add a little bit of style, or even a focal point to a garden.
However, they are mainly used in medium to large sized gardens to help separate your garden into different sections or areas. There are a wide range of garden arches available to give you a nice entrance between the different spaces.
There are many different types of garden arch made from many different materials and there are loads of things you can do with them to make them totally individual. The only real limitation is your imagination.
An archway is one of the simplest garden structures and they can also be highly versatile. An arch adds height to a flat garden and when covered with roses, honeysuckle or other climbers provides a long-lasting fragrance every time you pass.
Even in small areas, an archway can give the impression that you are entering a new or special place.
A well placed arch divides an area and can make it seem much more interesting. Also, they can be used to disguise utilities such as dustbins, a shed or the washing.
Wooden arches for gardens are great for this purpose as they will match with wooden panel fences and screening. Finally we believe that arches can introduce a romantic feel into any garden.
They have no real practical purpose apart from as a support for plants, but they can nonetheless make a major impact on your outdoor space.
How Much do Arches Cost?
With the introduction of metal arches, the prices have become a great deal cheaper than they used to be. At the lower end you can pick one up for between £11-16.
This type of arch will need to be assembled. In reality these are popular because of the price point. The general feedback is those that they will only last for a couple of years at best before the start to show signs of rust.
That is because they are made of thin metals and powder coated. They just son't stand up to the great British weather for any length of time.
If you are looking for something larger, or more ornate and intricate then you can spend upwards of £70-£120. It very much depends on the style that you are looking for. These are better made and come with much longer warranties and guarantees.
What are they used for?
They have many purposes. The most popular is for using with trailing roses or any type of trailing plants.
Arches can also be used in a dark corner of a garden to bring some pretty impressive colour.
Many people use them with one side against a garage wall, and the other side then leads into the rear or side garden.
Your own garden layout will always be slightly different to other homes, so you can quickly decide where your garden or driveway will benefit from an arch.
The image above is a typical metal garden arch with trailing plants used to cover it.
Wooden Garden Arch Types
The wooden arch still remains a popular choice for a few reasons. Those are:
- They look very natural in any garden
- They are easy to make and you can gather the materials
- They come in a wide variety of styles and appearance
- They are easy to maintain and last for many years
If you decide to buy a wooden arch from a garden centre or elsewhere, then you will find that most wooden arches are normally supplied in a standard untreated finish. Some of those may have been stained green to blend in better with plants and foliage.
You find that most of the timber arches will be pressure-treated against rot and other problems and it’s important to check this.
Some makers can guarantee their wooden garden arches for up to 15 years and we would advise looking for as long of a warranty as you can find.
It is of course very easy to make these arches more personal and a quick coat of paint can transform them. A lot of people go for bright colours and this can be particularly attractive in winter when most of the bright coloured flowers have died down and your garden may look a little bare.
We also likes those arches that come with planters at side of the arch as they are a great idea for expanding the use of the arch and adding more colour..
Many of the arches have trellis type panels on the top or sides to aid climbing plants, and can also cast attractive shadows on a nice sunny day. Once your plants have grown into the arch a totally natural structure emerges that adds a very established look to the garden. Sometimes the arch becomes virtually invisible as the climbing plants take over.
Over the years we have made many hundreds of wooden arches and in truth they are quick and simple to do and rather inexpensive. A few simple strips of wood and a bit of trellis along with some imagination and you can have some really great designs.
Willow Garden Arches
We wanted to give a special mention to willow arches which we think look fantastic. These are 100% natural, and if you like that idea, then the willow garden arch is certainly for you.
They are one of our favourite favourite types of wooden arch as they can stand alone, without any climbing plants and still look superb.
Some of the cheaper ones come with the willow wrapped around a strong metal frame and these are very nice but if you want the best then the hand-made, 100% willow arches are by far the best looking. They might be a bit more expensive and harder to find but it will be well worth it.
These hand woven arches are made are made from long unrooted willow strips known as whips. When freshly cut they can be woven into almost any pattern. They also last a lifetime are very natural looking. They will be an asset in any type of garden.
Metal Garden Arches
Metal garden arches are now the most popular choice as they are affordable, last a long time and are easy to put together and install into your garden.
Cast iron was used for making arches, railings etc for over 200 years. However, nearly all metal garden arches are now made from steel or aluminium. They are strong enough to carry plants and easy to mount into soil.
Metal arches have a much more contemporary look and may look more in place if you are living in a more modern property. Most metal arches are painted black, dark green or even white but this is totally up to the individual and you can paint them in any colour you like.
The more fancy or ornate metal arches are more likely to be made from lightweight aluminium. Gothic metal arches have more pointed top as opposed to the regular curved appearance but it is totally up to personal preference. We think both are nice in their own way.
