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 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!

The Patio Rose Arch

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...

Frisbee Lawn Arch...
Wed 6th Jan 2010

The Frisbee Lawn Archway leads from the driveway through onto the Frisbee Lawn. It was originally planted with climbing Iceberg roses on each side. But somehow things didn't quite work out according to plan - a rather obese conifer got in the way...

More Archways - More Roses!...
Tue 24th Nov 2009

More archways - that means more roses! Thirteen metal archways sit in a row leading deep into the middle of the Hazelnut Orchard. The roses which adorn them have been growing now for a few years.

Crab-Apple Arch...
Wed 24th Dec 2008

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.

Pond Garden Arch...
Fri 10th Oct 2008

The Pond Paddock archway forms the entrance to the Pond Paddock from the house lawn. An original sheep fence joins it on either side. This archway has never been exploited to the full by its roses, so I'm now giving a Clematis Montana a try. Eek!

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 metal archways which frame the grass path leading up to the lawns and gardens at the side of the house. And guess what they're both covered with? Roses...

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.

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.