Wrought Iron Trellis
There is nothing like a wrought iron trellis to add some structural elegance to your back or front yard. Building something with some significant height compared to the plants you have growing gives the garden dimension, and raises the eye to a higher point of vision. That way, you can make more of what you have.
For Extra Character In Your Garden
If all your plants were in their infancy stages, or if you had predominantly ground cover or plants that are short in height, there would be nothing to look at above the first couple of feet. Installing a wrought iron trellis draws the focal point upwards, especially if it is festooned with beautiful flowers or foliage.
Setting it up
You can set up a wrought iron trellis in one afternoon. Many come in kit form from your home decorator or outdoor supplies store. The instructions are simple and you do not need any professional tools to do the job. Trellises can be positioned in the middle of a garden if there is enough support to keep it standing.
Sitting it down far enough into the dirt, say about a foot, may be all that is required, or you may need to use a shape that is self-supporting, such as a pyramid or upturned V. Large, heavy trellises will need concrete bases and considering the weight of wrought iron, this is something you will have to determine before you install it. Otherwise, trellises look stunning up against a feature wall and you can use a series of them to repeat the look along it.
The finished item
There are various finishes you can give to a wrought iron trellis to make it fit with the general look of your garden.
For a rustic, olden day look, leave it unfinished and allow the elements to corrode it a little, creating a beautiful patina that will change over the years.
Or, if your house is white or you like the cottagey look that white garden ornaments bring, paint your wrought iron trellis in two coats of a gorgeous bright white. Imagine how the green foliage will look against the stark white background.
Black is popular for gardens too, as is green but there is no reason why you cannot paint it blue, purple or even gold.
What matters is that it blends in well with the other decorative features of your yard.
What to plant
Any climbing plant will love its new wrought iron trellis and will thrive the further up it climbs. Try nasturtiums if you are new to trellis gardening as they are easy to grow and do not require a lot of maintenance. Morning glories, ivy, sweet pea, jasmine and moonflowers are also lovely.
Or how about something edible like string beans, tomatoes or cucumbers? It is worth a little experimentation to find out what thrives and what does not in your garden. Your vertical garden can change season to season if you choose. Ask your garden supplies store for information about what is right for where you live.
There are endless designs for wrought iron trellises, some basic and plain, others extravagant and complex. Naturally, the cost will be relative to the amount of iron and work that goes into its construction. You can even order custom-made trellises to perfectly suit any details on your house. So if you are looking for something individual, a little different and oozing character, a wrought iron trellis could be just the thing.