Often when describing garden structures, people will use the words pergolas, arbour and gazebos interchangeably when in fact they are different structures. Let me explain the difference.

Pergolas

A pergola is a structure of columns or posts that has an open lattice style structure overhead. Usually they are made of wood however metal pergolas are also available, which require less maintenance than wood.

Benefits of a pergola

There are many benefits of including a pergola in a garden design. One benefit is that they can provide a beautiful focal point in a garden, adding interest to the design. Guests will be

encouraged to move throughout the garden towards a pergola, where a garden table or seating may await underneath.

Another benefit of installing a pergola is that they can be used as a framework for climbing plants, which adds height and vertical interest to the design.

Common plants often trained up a pergola include roses such as Rosa 'Wedding Day' (Ra) or clematis such as Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine).

When designing a garden it’s important to add different levels to the planting, so that you can view the whole design in one spot of the garden, but are encouraged to look around the next corner to see what delight awaits. A pergola that has a climbing rose trained up its structure will partially mask the view and make this a more enjoyable experience.

Problem of a pergola

One possible problem of installing a pergola is that we often think about the planting to include over the main structure, but may forget about the base of the structure resulting in bare space at ground level. To overcome this, try to disguise the posts by planting an evergreen fern such as Dryopteris (Wood Fern).

Arbours

An Arbour is an arch which can be built of either wood or metal, sometimes they are open and can be used as a walkway from one area of the garden to another, or they may be enclosed with a seat providing a place to perch and enjoy the view.

Benefits of an Arbour

There are multiple benefits of including an Arbour in a design, one of which is they make an ideal choice of connecting one area of a design to another.

Another benefit of installing an Arbour in a design is that they can be enclosed with a seat to make a private space to sit and enjoy the garden. 

Alternatively, the arbour could be placed somewhere in a garden to enjoy a vista that can be viewed from the space, such as a neighbor’s tree or a countryside view.

Problems of an Arbour

One of the problems with including an Arbous in a garden design is that plants that are trained up the structure may be exposed to extreme weather conditions, which may result in leaves becoming scorched by the sun, or mildew forming on the leaves due to damp conditions and poor air circulation.

It is the job of a garden designer to carefully select plants that will happily grow in the more exposed conditions. A good example of a plant choice that would be ideal to grow up an arbour would be Vitis 'Sovereign Coronation' (Grape Vine) as this would provide a structure for the vines as well as exposing the plant to the sun where it would thrive.

Gazebos

A gazebo is a pavilion with a solid roof that may or may not have solid sides to the structure. There are often built of wood, but more elaborate structures can be built of brick or stone.

Benefits of a Gazebo

One benefit of including a gazebo in a design is that they can provide a stunning focal point in the garden. Visitors will be encouraged to move throughout the space towards the shelter of the Gazebo, where they can sit and relax admiring the views from within.

Another benefit of a gazebo is that it provides some shelter from the wind or rain due to its enclosed roof. This ensures that the garden can still be enjoyed even during a hot summer or an unexpected garden shower. Our outside spaces should be multifunctional and a gazebo will offer that luxury.

Problem with a Gazebo

One potential problem of installing a gazebo in a garden design is whether or not planning permission is required.

When installing a gazebo on a larger site then research should be undertaken into the local planning laws to ensure that the structure is compliant and planning permission is undertaken in advance of the work being carried out if this is required.