Roses

There’s a moment when a garden goes from a collection of plants to a place: you walk under an arch covered in roses and suddenly you’re in a garden, not just standing in one. Arbors and archways do that. They frame an entryway, give climbing plants a structure to show off on, and add height to a garden that otherwise stops at your shins. They also range from $60 flimsy wire hoops to $400+ permanent structures, and the cheap ones have a bad habit of rusting, wobbling, or collapsing under a mature climbing rose. I tested seven of the most popular arbors and archways to see which ones actually hold up, which are easy to assemble without losing your temper, and which will still be standing in five years. ...