Living in Louisiana, wrought iron is my favorite material for trellises and arbors. The heavy black structures are a big part of our scenery and culture here. They look great in many situations... however, they can also be overwhelming when overdone. I try to mix a variety of structures so that my gardens have a more eclectic look. Here's a simple grid trellis that I've used to create a garden "room" in one corner of our yard. I have C. crassifolia and several types of viticella trained on it, but they are all newly planted babies in the photo. Louisiana irises fill the small garden in front of the lattice, along with a sunken fountain that is constructed from a converted chiminea. I attached Christmas lights to this trellis and they are set to come on for a few hours every night at dusk. I love the way the lights reflect in the pool and give a cheerful glow. BTW, I had just laid the brick patio that's in front of the lattice... now it's nice and smooth without the big gaps! We now have a set of wrought iron chaise loungers, a side table, and some potted plants on the landing as well.

How have you used these types of structures in your garden? Share, please!

Here are trellises I designed and hired the kids in welding shop at the school where I work to make for me four years ago.

Here is Alabast clematis on one side.

And Helios and Ruguchi on the middle one.

Bliss and Boo - your structures are amazing! Everything looks so pretty!

Thanks Dawn!

I love the lights on the trellis, too. Great idea, Evey.

Nice trellises Boojum. Good idea, getting the kids in school to make them.

Thanks Dawn and Polly! Boojum, your structures are awesome! I wonder if there is a school here with a welding class. I'm going to have to investigate that... it would be a great project for them to learn with and could be a money-maker for their school as well (plus a good deal for me too!). =)

Go for it! Ours is a technical school.

That is a good idea. We have a local vo tec school, too. I'll check into it.

I love, love, love iron trellises. I had 2 different ones and just had to remove them because of the salt corrosion. This one was so pretty, weighed a ton and I just couldn't believe how it suddenly started falling apart. We just had to take it out in pieces!

Another we just took down...

Does Duratel offer anything in a dark finish?

Kat, nope, they only have the Mocha and the white so far. I have suggested a black, but the word I got back was that the black pigments haven't been developed well enough yet for their 20 year guarantee against color fade. I was glad to know they are dedicated to standing behind their products!

For the wrought iron, you can avoid that deterioration problem in the future by hitting rust and degradation as soon as you see it starting to form. I use a rust bonder on my iron structures whenever I see the beginning of corrosion. There are several different products on the market for this now... just ask at your local hardware store. My favorite one turns black as it forms a new, strong bond on the rust, so it blends in perfectly with the black painted surface. I haven't had to replace any iron at any home we've had so far using this method. Give it a try!

Katg: Are you sure your trellies that started corroding were actually iron and not that hollow aluminum tubing stuff?
I see the aluminum things advertised as "iron" when they really aren't, and people get mislead into thinking it's real iron, then very shortly they start to disintegrate...especially in areas with heavy ocean air influence.

Yep, I wondered that too, Mike. Afterall, the iron gates and fences in New Orleans have survived for literally hundreds of years in some cases... I'm guessing the same is true for some of the Spanish and French structures down in Southern Florida.

Mike and Evey:

I think you're both right. I think these trellises may have been made out of "cast iron" instead of wrought. Not the same process and definitely more subject to corrosion.

Now Aluminum on the hand lasts for years here. That's what my pool cage is made of. Now if that one decides to start corroding...I'm really in trouble! hehe

Kat

True... and advertising "aluminum siding" would also be a bad idea if they fell apart in a season or two!

Lovely trellises, y'all. I like Boojum's idea of having a tec school welding class create these babies. Hmmm. Have to explore that idea! Oops, clock says it's time to get ready for work.

I too love the lights on the arbor.
I am working on some faux wrought trellises using cattle panels painted black. Hope I will have some done soo and some pics to share.
This is what happens when one orders lots of clems at once! Must figure out some arbors etc in a hurry. I never have a lot of luck working around plants in the ground. My construction crew (husband and myself) always manage to step on something precious!

Not sure if this info belongs here but Costco has a set of 3 obelisks for $44 that are wrought iron and quite nice.