What’s more inviting than a comfy bench under a shady tree where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of your summer garden? If yours is too small, an arbour is an attractive alternative.

• Arbours can be constructed from various materials such as wood, brick or wrought iron. Both the uprights and cross members of an arbour should be strong enough to take the weight of one or more creepers.
• Newly built arbours can look very bare, but avoid the temptation to over-plant or you’ll end up trying to disentangle delicate climbers from the more robust ones.
• Your choice of climber depends on the climate and situation in the garden. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a fast-growing evergreen with fragrant white flowers in summer. Deciduous climbers are best suited to areas with cold winters. Climbing roses for arbours are ‘Iceberg’, ‘Blossom Time’ and ‘Joseph’s Coat’.

Source: Home magazine