Garden Arches

There are three rules for archways in Moosey's Country Garden :

1. A reason to walk under them
2. Interesting things growing over them
3. A clear path through the interesting things

The Patio Rose Arch

The first rule is obviously the most important. The archway is after all designed to be gone through, and if there is no reason to do this then the archway is redundant. So, assuming that they will be walked through, the rules are common sense, not designer sense. As for clear passages underneath the arches, I break the third rule quite a lot, but hey! I'm the head gardener! I'm allowed!

Most importantly, all the permanent archways are very sturdily built and dug in well, to withstand the effects of the Canterbury nor-west winds. I use a black plastic 'tree-lock' product to tie in the rose canes, and spare loops are attached to the cross struts. The dimensions of the arches are big - roses and people have to share the space beneath without scratchy contact.

Other people plant a variety of interesting things to cover their archways, from beautiful roses to clematis and other climbing plants. Here at Mooseys I've been very unimaginative, and have only really used roses.

I'm a bit embarrassed about all those roses, actually...

Garden Pergola...
Mon 13th Dec 2004

It's the summer of 2004 and finally the pergola is completely covered by climbing roses (mainly the thornless apricot rose Crepuscule). It has only taken four and a half years - such a short time in a garden's life.

House Garden Arches...
Mon 13th Dec 2004

The House-Side Arches are a set of two archways which frame the grass path leading up to the lawns and gardens behind the house.

Roses and Arches...
Tue 24th Feb 2004

For me, archways equal roses. A major gardening confession - I have little imagination or confidence to grow anything else over the arches in the garden.

Pond Garden Arch...
Wed 26th Nov 2003

The Pond Paddock archway forms the entrance to the Pond Paddock from the house lawn. The original plan was for the beautifully scented red climber Etoile de Hollande to gracefully grow through and embrace this arch.

Crab-apple Arch...
Wed 24th Sep 2003

A narrow grass path joins the house lawn and the driveway lawn, and a natural archway of green has formed over the gap. I've placed a rather rickety green arch in there to provide a little help for the roses and the small Crab-apple Tree living either side of the gap.

Patio Rose Arch...
Mon 28th May 2001

When I moved here back in 1995 I was in my rose phase, and I brought many roses with me from my previous garden. Two of the roses were New Dawns, which I'd read were strong and healthy, with shiny green leaves.

Frisbee Lawn Arch...
Thu 1st Jun 2000

This archway leads from the driveway through onto the Frisbee Lawn. This archway is planted each side with a climbing Iceberg rose.