Strength and durability are key. A full grown rose, in bloom, and then maybe very wet can weigh a ton! A lot of the things I see around would never hold up to that weight. Particularly after some time and weather wear. Wood is the poorest choice because it rots quickly, even the treated ones, and will need to be replaced. That can be a horrendous job with a huge climber on it. Metals will rust but it takes longer depending on the metal. I don't know much about the newer plastic ones. I do know that eventually most plastics give way due to UV aging. It is a conundrum!

Do you think something like this rebar archway could be adapted to your needs?

http://www.familyhandyman.com/garden-structures/build-a-garden-archway/view-all

Even if you have to go buy a conduit bender and a few other items, the cost may still be less than a flimsier pre-constructed arch?

I hope someone who has more experience with this sort of project will weigh in on advantages of DYI, and what is best for roses, because I would really like to know also.

Virginia

Hi Lynn, my metal arbor is about 11 years old and still going strong over a five foot sidewalk. It had to be repaired once due to New Dawn, but is doing well with Colette and a clematis growing on it. It's probably not relevant now after so much time, but I think I purchased it online from, possibly, arbors.com. It's good quality, I think. However, I recently purchased a nice raised bed of some kind of composite plastic-wood pulp (could be wrong on the combo) from hayneedle.com, and boy do they have the wonderful arbors--an almost endless selection. I would go to them if I needed an arbor. In fact, I was wishing I needed one when I saw what they had available. Prices are good and they don't charge for shipping. In fact, they beat out Amazon's prices. Good luck. Diane

We've had great luck with metal arbors -- some from Harbor Freight, and some from Home Depot.

Thank you all for the information.

Dianne, Wow, their "prices beat Amazon", that is pretty good. We find prices on Amazon to be very good. I will definitely check the arbors.com site.

Virginia, the arbor found on the link is lovely. It can become windy here at times so I wonder what the wind rating is for it.

Jeri, we shop at Harbor Freight occasionally for odds, ends and often surprises. I did not know they sold arbors...thank you for the suggestion.

Seil, all of my trellises used previously were metal with some sort of coating. I purchased them at the local garden center. We do not get much rain or even moisture here so I wonder if that is why they remained rust free for at least 8 years? I wonder if the metal arbors will have a similar coating?

Lynn

My 11 year old metal arbor remains rust free, too. It's dry here also. Diane

True, Lynn, you don't live in the rust belt like I do, lol!

That rebar one is great, Virginia!

Hayneedle has some nice things, Nana. I am thinking about trying one of those "plastic wood" trellises for here to see how it winters.

Well, I have a good quality metal arbor that is 17 years old, and still going strong. No rust, though Quadra did pull the connections apart last year. It came from England at a time when the exchange rate made it affordable.

I little different spin. Do you have any metal workers or any artisans in your area? I have a "metal guy." My house builder introduced me when he made some metal pieces (range hood, custom mirror frame) for my home. I don't have an arbor, but he has made me a few trellises and a tuteur. Yes, a bit expensive, but 3/8" steel won't rust through until sometime after I'm taking a dirt nap. I had a tuteur made this spring because every thing I found was cheaply made and expensive for what it was. I spent twice as much and now have an original piece of art in my garden that will last for decades!

On one hand it was pricey, but my outdoor spaces are just as important to me as my indoor spaces. I wouldn't have batted an eye at spending the same amount on focal piece of furniture in my den.

Subk3, a decade ago, I had a gate custom made. The company also had a showroom featuring doors and all kinds of metal products for the home. I don't recall the name of the company, but I bet if I searched online, I would recognize it. This could be another option. Thank you.

Seil, my search for arbors.com led me to Haystack. They had what seemed to be a decent selection of traditional arbors. Unfortunately I don't know what I want at this point other than the size.

Lynn

In our garden we go for the simple, sturdy, and cheap: for climbing plants, including roses, that means rebar-and-bamboo pergolas and supports of every description. This may well be too plain for many gardens, but they're functional indeed, and they last. DH buys the rebar at a local metal factory and they cut and bend it to his specifications; then the bamboo goes on top. For a wildish garden in the country they look fine, and the roses themselves are the ornament. In a garden with quality hardscape they would probably be out of place.

P.S. For those who might be interested in these kinds of structures, one of their advantages is that you can make them in just about any shape and size (well--no curves), and you can carry them home yourself.

Two wrought iron arbors still standing strong going on 18 years now in wet & humid conditions. Both came with charcoal-black powdercoat finish, Achla brand made in Poland at the time, and are solid rather than hollow. The smaller "Tuileries" model at 4' wide by 16" deep spans a walkway & is still offered. http://tinyurl.com/ntm9sql The larger "Bobolinks" arbor at 5' wide by 2' deep marks an entrance through a long hedge & though discontinued is still available. http://tinyurl.com/pq96m7v

Very satisfied with the way both have held up over the years. Coated the path arbor with oil over the powdercoat before installing & again maybe 5 years ago. It still looks brand new. The entrance arch missed that initial treatment. Last year the finish coat looked faded with just the barest dusting of rust showing on the twisted areas. Could have sanded the twisty parts in place & oiled the whole arch, but the climbers either side had reverted to rootstock, so we took it down, lightly sanded with foam-backed pads for metal & gave it several coats of spray can Rustoleum including a primer coat. Besides the twisty pieces, the rest of the arch showed no failure of the finish beyond fade, even the ends underground in acidic clay, which can deteriorate uncoated metals fairly quickly.

Both of these come in pieces that slip together without fasteners. which you can see in the photos as the wider sections where the top fits over the top ends of the uprights. Winds here have topped 100 mph without affecting the arches, whose feet are sunk in hard-packed clay but not cemented in. A microburst sent a several hundred pound teak pavillion erected for a garden wedding (and not anchored down into the ground) sailing 20 feet away from where it originally stood, thankfully days after the ceremony, but the arbors in the same wind path didn't flinch.

Vinyl arbors weren't readily available when we chose these wrought iron ones. I've seen a few of the Dura-Trel models lately that seem very sturdy & handsome and can be secured to screw in earth anchors. I like that the wrought iron arches provide a framework while blending into the natural world & how easily the birds perch on them. For a more architectural presence, the vinyl ones seem more durable & maintenance free than the usual woods (excepting teak whose price is sky high) & the better ones carry a 20-year warranty.