The focus of all gardening efforts are of course the plants. However, certain components or constructions can always help to put one or the other plant in the limelight. A rose arch is probably the best-known example of such an addition. Whether made of wood or metal, you can easily build the trellis yourself in just a few steps. In our easy-to-understand instructions, we explain how building and planting can be done easily.
Table of Contents
wood or metal
The two common ways to build a rose arch is to build it out of wood or out of metal as the main building material for the supporting parts. In order to show different methods and also to show the creative range, our instructions for a wooden building refer to a straight construction with a flat top. The instructions for the metal variant, on the other hand, show a shape with a rounded top.
Exact dimensions should not play a role in the instructions, as they can vary greatly depending on the planned planting, span and optical ideas.
The materials
First, let’s look at what materials are needed to build the foundation:
Variant 1: Two plant pots, diameter and height at least 50 cm, gravel or sand
Variant 2: four pavement slabs made of concrete, approx. 50×50 cm, at least 4 centimeters thick
Variant 3: no materials
Timber construction variant:
- four squared timbers approx. 30x30mm, approx. 2.00m long (for foundation variant 3 at least 2.50m)
- two squared timbers same dimension, approx. 1.00 to 1.50m long
- Wooden slats 1x2cm
Variant Metal:
- four square tubes approx. 2x2cm, approx. 2.00m long (for foundation variant 3 at least 2.50m)
- two flat metal strips, same width, approx. 3mm thick, approx. 2.00m long
- Flat metal pieces 10x3mm
Lanyards:
- Metallwinkel 20x20x2mm
- Screws for wood or metal, l=20mm
- Optional, depending on the foundation variant: screws, l=40mm, matching dowels
tool
Once the material has been prepared, it is important to look for the right tools:
- saw (metal or wood)
- screwdriver
- Cordless screwdriver or drill with suitable drill bits for metal or wood, as well as a suitable countersink
- Angle, tape measure, folding rule, and pencil or felt-tip pen
Instructions – build the rose arch step by step
Now let’s begin our rose arch. Long before planting, however, the first thought is how the arch should be attached to the ground. There are different variants for this. Although individual construction methods are only explained later, for a systematic overview all versions are treated right at the beginning:
The foundation
Variant 1 – Weight through plant pots
Here the stability is ensured by weight. This is created by filling plant pots with sand or gravel:
- OPTIONAL: Dig out the soil in the area of the rose arch feet in the dimensions of the selected plant pots and level the plant pots, then fill in the soil again to secure the pots and press down
- ALTERNATIVE: Set up plant pots at the location of the rose arch
- Place the rose arches in the plant pots and align them vertically, making sure they are positioned using the helpers
- Fill pots with sand or gravel to just below the top edge
Variant 2 – paving slabs
Here, too, weight serves to secure the position of the rose arch:
- place two sidewalk slabs on top of each other at the locations of the rose arch legs
- Connect the panels lying on top of each other with screws and dowels
- Set up the rose arch and align it vertically, secure the position using helpers
- Screw the legs of the arch to the ground on all sides using metal brackets
Variant 3 – digging in
At the anchoring point, dig a hole for each vertical rod, depth at least 50 cmThe last form of securing the position is via the ground and can be done without any additional materials:
- Set the rose arch, align it vertically and then secure it
- Fill holes with soil and compact
The book
Once the ground contact has been clarified, it is time to erect the actual arch. The rose arch consists of vertical sides and a top. We are looking at a variant with a round top made of metal, and a variant with a straight shape made of wood.
The pages
- Lay out vertical supporting rods (square tubing or squared timber) on a flat surface, e.g. garage floor, parallel, distance corresponds to later depth of the arch (e.g.: 30 to 50m)
- Cut horizontal connections (flat metal or wooden slats), later support rods for vegetation after planting, ideally with a projection over the support rods (e.g. 5cm each)
- Lay out the crossbars evenly at a distance of around 30 cm over the length of the supporting bars and align them perpendicularly to the supporting structure
- Connect the supporting rods and crossbars with screws, if necessary pre-drill and countersink the holes so that the screws disappear flush and the materials do not tear out
- Build the second page in the same way
The top
Once the sides are created, it’s time to go to the top.
From wooden components:
- Build the top in the same way as the sides, choosing the length of the supporting rods based on the distance between the sides at the later location
- Erect the side panels, either in their final location or provisionally leaning against a house or garage wall
- Place the upper part and connect using metal brackets and screws
Made of metal:
- To determine the exact length, later mark the distance between the side parts on the floor
- Bending flat metal round (due to the flexibility of the metal, this is easily possible without any auxiliary construction by bringing the ends together
- Place ends at floor markings and check bow
- If the arc is too high, shorten the flat metal until you get a semicircular shape
- Pre-drill the flat metal strip at the same distance as the crossbars on the side parts
- Pre-drill crossbars at a distance from the bearing bars
- Screw flat metal bars with crossbars to form an H lattice
- Place the curved grille on the side parts, alignment is possible lying on the side on the garage floor
- Guide the sheet to the side next to the head ends of the side parts, overlapping at least 5 cm
- Prepare at least 2 screw connections for each supporting bar by pre-drilling and screwing
Raising and planting
It’s almost time to start planting. Now the rose arch is buried, screwed onto pavement slabs or finally graveled into the plant pots. This ends the building. The last step in the instructions is therefore planting. There are two fundamentally different options for this:
- Planting in the plant bed under the rose arch feet
- Planting in the plant pot, if necessary even in the foundation pot of the arch
Which type is chosen depends on the type and size of the desired plant, as well as the possibilities on site. If the variant with a rose arch and plants in large pots is chosen, this construction can even be erected without a flower bed to enrich the balcony or terrace, regardless of location. The only important thing when planting is that the selected plants are able to climb the arch. The first shoots on the arch may have to be tied up in order to find a secure hold for the further ascent.
