Rose Pergolas

A rose pergola is a series of arches forming a sort of covered way, and is often seen in Italy, where, of course, shade is imperative.  Occasionally they are very imposing, being built of stone pillars, and connected by elaborate cross-beams of the same, but these are too pretentious, as well as too costly, for small gardens.

We shall deal here with a simpler rose pergola style.

Where to place them

Pergolas are always well placed when they connect one part of a garden with another, say the flower with the fruit garden, and they should invariably serve some purpose of that sort, or they look meaningless.

This series of arches can be built over a gravel path, or better still, over a grass-walk.  There is nothing lovelier than a grass-walk shaded by roses.

There is something most fascinating about these pergolas, as you look down the long vista flecked by sunshine, and out to the garden beyond.  When twilight comes there is an air of mystery, too, and romance about it, far removed from the bald realism of open spaces. 

To enjoy this to the full a rustic seat could be placed not far off, surrounded by roses and other fragrant flowers.

Plant outside

In planting the rose trees it is best to leave a free space to walk in and to plant the trees on the outside.  Many of the branches should be bent almost horizontal, not only to make a connecting link, but to induce the rose tree to flower all the way down, otherwise only the birds and people looking out of a top storey window will have the benefit.

Choose vigorous growers

To induce rose trees to “join hands” quickly, a good mulching of manure should be given at least once a year.  The rose trees should be pruned but little, and this in the autumn, when only the old growth should be cut away.

Some hardy and vigorous growers:

                         Capt. Samuel Holland

                         John Cabot

                         John Davis

                         Henry Kelsey

                         Marie Victorin

                         William Booth

                         William Boffin

The best materials for rose pergolas

Wood is one of the best materials of which to make these in a small garden, though nothing looks better than those made with stone or brick pillars when the surroundings are in harmony.  In the country it is easy to get the trunks or boughs of large trees for the pillars.  Sometimes we can hear of friends who are thinning their trees, and so secure the material.

The ends must be well tarred before they go into the ground or they will rot, and clamped with iron where connected with the cross-beam to make all secure.  Do not connect with anything but a little strong wire or tarred twine, as the roses will soon do the rest with little encouragement in a marvelously short space of time.  Trellis work is not so pretty and seems more artificial.

Avoid varnish

Prevent varnishing the wood, it spoils the whole thing.  Who has not seen pieces of so-called rustic furniture absolutely shining with varnish, and not fit to look at for years, when some of the newness has worn off.  

Some people pin their faith to galvanised iron for forming a pergola, and certainly when most of it is covered by climbing roses the effect is excellent.   But many roses seem to have a dislike to that material, and do not grow with the same luxuriance that they display on wooden posts.  However, these wire arches have one great advantage – they do not harbor insects, and if a piece of cloth is put between the rose and the iron when tacking up, many kinds do very well.