Elevating the space in the peony garden. Part 1: The garden arch

Choosing the right garden elements is rarely straightforward, and introducing more height to the peony garden has proven even trickier than expected. My spring 2026 goal was to choose different elements to elevate the space at eye level and more. First: a garden arch!

An arch does far more than add vertical interest. It creates a sense of arrival, guides the eye through the landscape, and introduces structure without heaviness. Along with borders, colour, planting, and hard landscaping, it helps shape the garden’s overall atmosphere.

The need for height in a flat garden

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that the wide borders of my peony garden, for all their beauty, can appear visually flat. The garden itself occupies a sunny expanse of lawn bordered on three sides by mature trees and woodland. On the street side, however, there is little sense of enclosure. Adding lilies that bloom after the peony season introduced some vertical interest, but not quite enough. I needed to elevate the space.

During the winter, I planned to accomplish this through obelisks and trellises, along with one or two stronger structural elements to create greater impact. I will, of course, share how these additions transform the garden.

If there is one feature that can instantly elevate a space, it is a pergola, an arch, or an arbour. I have been considering adding one or two for some time, not simply as decoration, but as a way to give shape and intention to the layout. Since I tend to avoid rigid edging and formal hardscaping, a well-placed arch offers just enough structure without feeling stiff. It frames a path, invites exploration, and provides natural support for climbers that will soften its lines over time.

In this first part, I would like to share my thought process in choosing the right arch for my garden.

Why an arch?

Unlike heavier structures such as pergolas or arbours, an arch feels lighter and more transitional. It does not dominate the garden. Instead, it quietly guides visitors through it.

Placed along a pathway, an arch creates rhythm and encourages exploration. Even a single arch can change how visitors experience the garden, slowing movement and drawing attention to what lies beyond. In a garden filled with generous perennial borders, this type of structure provides definition without adding visual heaviness.

I also appreciate how an arch can frame a view while remaining visually airy. It introduces structure without appearing overly architectural, making it particularly well-suited to a cottage-style garden.

The arch by any other name

Before falling in love with a design, I needed to think carefully about the role the arch would play.

I wanted it to:

emphasize the entrance to the peony garden;
create a focal point visible from the lawn alley;
eventually support climbing plants;
add height without overwhelming the borders;
complement the curving lines and cottage-style planting.

Material was another important consideration. I leafed through landscaping books, explored blog posts and online catalogues, and even started adding ideas to my Pinterest.

Wood arches bring warmth and softness, especially in informal gardens, while metal structures often feel lighter and more elegant. Vinyl and PVC offer lower maintenance but sometimes lack personality. Since the peony garden already combines lush perennial borders with flowing curves, I found myself drawn to an airy metal design that would disappear gracefully beneath foliage and flowers.

Proportion mattered enormously as well. Many garden arches appear surprisingly small once installed outdoors. I wanted something tall and open enough to feel welcoming while remaining balanced within the broad garden scale. Width was equally important, as the lawn is mowed with a tractor that should still be able to pass through if I decide to maintain a grass path beneath the arch.

Planting around an arch

A garden arch truly comes alive once plants begin to climb and soften its structure. When I installed the arch between two borders, I had to enlarge them immediately so that they would embrace the structure. Fortunately, finding plants to fill the new spaces was hardly a problem, especially with a peony order arriving from a nursery in late May.

enlarging borders on each side of the arch

I am considering several possibilities for next year:

clematis for vertical colour and contrast;
annual vines such as sweet peas or morning glories for rapid summer coverage;
honeysuckle for fragrance and pollinator activity;
climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris, though its weight may not be an ideal choice for most arches
smaller climbing roses, although roses have not always thrived in my current location.

Because arches are relatively light structures, they pair best with plants that drape gracefully rather than overwhelm the framework.

Long-blooming perennials nearby will also help maintain interest throughout the season, ensuring that the structure remains integrated into the borders even when the climbers are in between cycles of bloom.

Placement and installation

The location of an arch matters just as much as the structure itself.

I carefully considered sightlines from the road, nearby plantings, future growth, and how the arch would appear from different areas of the garden. The goal is not simply to place an ornament, but to create a destination and a visual transition within the landscape.

Installation also requires more thought than many gardeners expect. A leaning arch quickly loses its charm. Some models rely on simple ground stakes, while others require more substantial anchoring systems for long-term stability.

I thought I had successfully levelled and secured my arch until a friend who was weeding nearby used it to help himself stand up. The unexpected test quickly revealed that my installation was not quite as solid as I had imagined. More substantial anchors are now on the to-do list to ensure the structure remains stable for years to come.

Proper placement and anchoring may not be the most romantic aspects of garden design, but they are essential for creating a structure that feels permanent and harmonious within the garden.

More than structure

What fascinates me most about garden arches is that they shape experience as much as they shape space.

An arch becomes a threshold.

A pause along a pathway.

A frame for changing seasonal views.

It is where flowers soften metal lines, where shadows shift in the evening light, and where visitors instinctively slow down before moving forward again.

In many ways, an arch transforms a simple garden path into a journey. And I marvel every time a bird settles on top.

Looking ahead

Elevating the space in the peony garden by adding height and structure feels like the natural next step in its evolution. The borders themselves are already mature and abundant, but carefully placed vertical elements are bringing a new sense of balance and perspective to the space. I especially enjoy standing beside the giant pine and looking toward the garden through the arch, as in this last week’s view.

I suspect one arch may eventually lead to another, although the lawn alleys do limit where they can be placed. In the next installments, I’ll introduce the obelisks and the arbour, another feature that is beginning to redefine the garden’s character.

Gardens, after all, are never truly finished. They keep evolving, season after season—and perhaps that is part of what makes them so endlessly fascinating.