Garden Arches: Gateways to Paradise

Please come through, and enter a another world! Inspired by the craftsmanship of the Victorian age, our pinecone-topped Rose Arches are reminiscent of yesteryear. Swathed in a blanket of climbing roses, the Kiftsgate Rose Arch evokes an atmosphere of romance in any garden, whether as the frame for a spectacular vista or the seductive entrance to a hidden paradise. At weddings, major birthdays, and other special occasions, a richly-decorated rose arch provides the perfect backdrop. It is no accident that so shapely an arch as our Kiftsgate model should symbolise a gateway to happiness.

Victorian Design Garden Arches

Just as the architects of the Gothic Revival drew on the Middle Ages to express their Romantic yearning, so the arbours, arches and pergolas in vogue during Queen Victoria’s reign were inspired by medieval styles. With iron more affordable thanks to industrial progress, wooden support frames gradually gave way to frames of metal. Soon, these iron garden structures soared to new heights, and countless taller climbing roses were bred to embellish them. This was a golden age of British rose breeding. Today, the plant supports of the late 19th century – many of them lovingly restored – attest to the Romantic spirit of that age. At Classic Garden Elements, we are committed to tracking down the finest Victorian garden arches and garden trellises and recreating them for today’s gardens. Modelled on the pointed window frames of medieval architecture, the Kiftsgate Rose Arch is one of our undoubted treasures.

Metal Garden Arches versus Garden Arches made of wood

Where climbing plants play a role in garden design, support frames are all-important. Iron supports are obviously much more durable than wooden frames. Frames made of hot-dip galvanized, powder-coated steel have a similar advantage. You can certainly use long wooden slats or bamboo canes to train annual climbers, or as temporary supports in a vegetable garden. However, the more profuse the leaves on a plant, the heavier it becomes. With roses, a weaker arch runs the risk of collapsing under the growing weight of the plant. How unfortunate, were this to happen at the very moment your rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ was reaching its zenith! For this reason, we recommend that support frames and climbers should be exactly right for each other, especially with regard to height and shape. Another advantage of metal garden arches is that, unlike their wooden counterparts, they don’t need annual treatment using protection agents. This treatment not only involves using products that can be toxic, but it is also difficult to accomplish on an archway or trellis that is covered in roses or climbing plants!

Bear in mind that some support structures look particularly attractive when they are not completely covered with vegetation. And do remember that if your metal arch is to give you lasting pleasure, it will need a firm foundation.