Higher Ground: 9 Ways to Create Height in Your Garden
Frame your garden and give it vertical interest with these ideas for creating height using structures and planting
Claudia De Yong
7 April 2019
Houzz UK contributor and award-winning landscape and garden designer. Claudia de Yong Designs offers a consultancy and design service for the private and corporate client. We are also able to source anything for the garden from plants to pots, paving and architectural features . Please visit my new online shop for garden products.
Houzz UK contributor and award-winning landscape and garden designer. Claudia de... More
There are various ways to introduce height and interest in your outside space, whatever its size – whether you choose to use a feature tree, a pergola, vertical plants or even simply mounding the soil. Here are nine nifty ideas to help you add that third dimension.
1. Grow up a structure
Obelisks, whether wood or metal, will draw the eye to an individual feature plant. As well as supporting greenery, these structures are great additions in themselves in the winter months, as they can bring much-needed interest to an otherwise flat landscape. You could try adding one to a large pot, which can then be moved around to create interesting planting anywhere you choose.
Obelisks can define an entrance to a garden or be used as a centrepiece. Alternatively, add a few through a long border in various numbers to create more interest and to include plants that need support within the beds.
You can buy ready-made obelisks, or make your own structural pyramids for climbing plants such as sweet peas, clematis and runner beans. Search online to find instructions for constructing plant supports using bamboo canes or hazel.
Obelisks, whether wood or metal, will draw the eye to an individual feature plant. As well as supporting greenery, these structures are great additions in themselves in the winter months, as they can bring much-needed interest to an otherwise flat landscape. You could try adding one to a large pot, which can then be moved around to create interesting planting anywhere you choose.
Obelisks can define an entrance to a garden or be used as a centrepiece. Alternatively, add a few through a long border in various numbers to create more interest and to include plants that need support within the beds.
You can buy ready-made obelisks, or make your own structural pyramids for climbing plants such as sweet peas, clematis and runner beans. Search online to find instructions for constructing plant supports using bamboo canes or hazel.
2. Draw your eye to the sky
Trellises can help disguise an ugly wall, and will also allow you to grow many climbing plants, whatever the size of your plot. A wall or fence is a wonderful bonus in a garden, as it offers a vertical microclimate that you can use for invaluable extra growing space.
It’s not just flowers that will help you reach the sky – there are plenty of climbing fruit and vegetable varieties, too. If you have a north-facing wall or fence, try growing courgettes, cucumbers and strawberries.
It’s important, however, that you grow the right plants for the specific orientation – so don’t try to grow sun-loving plants on a damp, shady wall, for instance. If you want colour but only have shade, then try growing a climbing hydrangea such as Hydrangea anomala subsp petiolaris alongside a rose such as Souvenir du Dr Jamain.
Wonder Wall: The Climbing Plants That Can Improve Your Garden
Trellises can help disguise an ugly wall, and will also allow you to grow many climbing plants, whatever the size of your plot. A wall or fence is a wonderful bonus in a garden, as it offers a vertical microclimate that you can use for invaluable extra growing space.
It’s not just flowers that will help you reach the sky – there are plenty of climbing fruit and vegetable varieties, too. If you have a north-facing wall or fence, try growing courgettes, cucumbers and strawberries.
It’s important, however, that you grow the right plants for the specific orientation – so don’t try to grow sun-loving plants on a damp, shady wall, for instance. If you want colour but only have shade, then try growing a climbing hydrangea such as Hydrangea anomala subsp petiolaris alongside a rose such as Souvenir du Dr Jamain.
Wonder Wall: The Climbing Plants That Can Improve Your Garden
3. Creep up and over
Pergolas and arbours not only add an attractive vertical dimension that gives the eye an alternative view of the garden, they can also help to disguise unsightly areas.
You can successfully grow fruit over a pergola or, if it’s cascading blooms you’re after, wisteria looks fantastic. There are so many climbing plants you can train up a structure like this, roses and jasmine being favourites.
A single variety of the same plant can look incredible, but you may wish to add other climbing varieties to prolong the flowering season. For example, you could use a Clematis alpina at the beginning of the season to grow through a rose, followed later by a Clematis viticella in summer.
Make sure any structure you use is able to support the weight of the plants.
Pergolas and arbours not only add an attractive vertical dimension that gives the eye an alternative view of the garden, they can also help to disguise unsightly areas.
You can successfully grow fruit over a pergola or, if it’s cascading blooms you’re after, wisteria looks fantastic. There are so many climbing plants you can train up a structure like this, roses and jasmine being favourites.
A single variety of the same plant can look incredible, but you may wish to add other climbing varieties to prolong the flowering season. For example, you could use a Clematis alpina at the beginning of the season to grow through a rose, followed later by a Clematis viticella in summer.
Make sure any structure you use is able to support the weight of the plants.
4. Hang an array of pots
Hanging baskets and pots are a great way to add instant interest, and they allow you to change your display as often as you like.
It’s not just flowers that look good in hanging pots: there are many varieties of edible plants and herbs that can also work well and are especially handy if positioned near the kitchen door.
You could also use a form of stacking container with multiple apertures, such as a pallet, which could be fitted to the wall for growing plants, fruit and vegetables.
Hanging baskets and pots are a great way to add instant interest, and they allow you to change your display as often as you like.
It’s not just flowers that look good in hanging pots: there are many varieties of edible plants and herbs that can also work well and are especially handy if positioned near the kitchen door.
You could also use a form of stacking container with multiple apertures, such as a pallet, which could be fitted to the wall for growing plants, fruit and vegetables.
5. Create a living wall
Living walls have a multitude of uses: they add height, provide insulation, deflect water away from walls in heavy rain, create a habitat for insects, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and offer aesthetic benefits.
Instead of using a single climbing plant, a living wall is created by growing a mix of herbaceous plants, such as sedums, ferns, heucheras and succulents.
You can buy living wall systems in garden centres. These often consist of a framework of planting pods and are connected to an irrigation system.
Browse more images of gorgeous gardens with climbing plants
Living walls have a multitude of uses: they add height, provide insulation, deflect water away from walls in heavy rain, create a habitat for insects, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and offer aesthetic benefits.
Instead of using a single climbing plant, a living wall is created by growing a mix of herbaceous plants, such as sedums, ferns, heucheras and succulents.
You can buy living wall systems in garden centres. These often consist of a framework of planting pods and are connected to an irrigation system.
Browse more images of gorgeous gardens with climbing plants
6. Cultivate lofty edibles
If you have a small garden but still dream of being self-sufficient, there are many dwarf varieties of trees and shrubs available that offer both height and fruit. However, make sure you choose the right plant for each spot.
Height in this small garden is achieved by planting against the fence with espaliers (trees trained to grow flat), and lining the path with small but very productive fruit trees. The dwarf stock varieties have been specially grafted and will also do well in large containers, as long as they get enough sun and you water them frequently.
Apart from apples, pears, plums and cherry trees, you can also get dwarf varieties of peach and nectarine trees. However, these will need more protection, especially from frost and cold winds. If you want to try a small apricot tree, then consider apricot ‘Isabelle’.
If you have a small garden but still dream of being self-sufficient, there are many dwarf varieties of trees and shrubs available that offer both height and fruit. However, make sure you choose the right plant for each spot.
Height in this small garden is achieved by planting against the fence with espaliers (trees trained to grow flat), and lining the path with small but very productive fruit trees. The dwarf stock varieties have been specially grafted and will also do well in large containers, as long as they get enough sun and you water them frequently.
Apart from apples, pears, plums and cherry trees, you can also get dwarf varieties of peach and nectarine trees. However, these will need more protection, especially from frost and cold winds. If you want to try a small apricot tree, then consider apricot ‘Isabelle’.
7. Be a shape-shifter
A wonderful way to grow fruit to add height, if you are willing to be patient and are good at pruning, is by using different-shaped frames.
For a variety of fruit grown in this way, take inspiration from the wonderfully restored Edwardian gardens at West Dean in West Sussex, UK (pictured), where the gardeners have used a different selection of structural supports for training fruit.
It takes several years to grow fruit this way over pre-formed steel frames, but it will lead to much healthier crops, as the open centre of the structure prevents fungal diseases, thanks to better air circulation.
A wonderful way to grow fruit to add height, if you are willing to be patient and are good at pruning, is by using different-shaped frames.
For a variety of fruit grown in this way, take inspiration from the wonderfully restored Edwardian gardens at West Dean in West Sussex, UK (pictured), where the gardeners have used a different selection of structural supports for training fruit.
It takes several years to grow fruit this way over pre-formed steel frames, but it will lead to much healthier crops, as the open centre of the structure prevents fungal diseases, thanks to better air circulation.
8. Raise the bar
Raised garden beds will naturally make any of your plants look taller. You can also use the change in levels to great effect by adding pots at a higher position than they would normally be.
Using trees with a single clear stem along a boundary wall or fence will accentuate length and height. The top layer, especially if evergreen, will give the appearance of a hedge at a higher level.
You could also grade your soil to create mounds, so plants sit at a higher point. This will bring drama into a previously flat landscape.
Raised garden beds will naturally make any of your plants look taller. You can also use the change in levels to great effect by adding pots at a higher position than they would normally be.
Using trees with a single clear stem along a boundary wall or fence will accentuate length and height. The top layer, especially if evergreen, will give the appearance of a hedge at a higher level.
You could also grade your soil to create mounds, so plants sit at a higher point. This will bring drama into a previously flat landscape.
9. Plant for height
Height in gardens is not only achieved by using metal or wooden structures – trees naturally give you year-round interest up high, and they’re great for nature.
A traditional way to plant a border is to position smaller perennials towards the front and taller ones at the back. Use plants such as tall grasses to punctuate the bed and immediately add height; they’ll also bring in pleasing movement.
Tell us
Have you created a garden using plants or structures of different heights? Share your tips in the Comments section, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Prefer to leave the heavy lifting to a professional? Find a landscape architect or designer near you who can discuss options for your outdoor space and construct your vision
Height in gardens is not only achieved by using metal or wooden structures – trees naturally give you year-round interest up high, and they’re great for nature.
A traditional way to plant a border is to position smaller perennials towards the front and taller ones at the back. Use plants such as tall grasses to punctuate the bed and immediately add height; they’ll also bring in pleasing movement.
Tell us
Have you created a garden using plants or structures of different heights? Share your tips in the Comments section, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Prefer to leave the heavy lifting to a professional? Find a landscape architect or designer near you who can discuss options for your outdoor space and construct your vision
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I like the olive trees lined up to offer structure and year round greenery. But could be supplemented by a bit of seasonal colour .I’ve saved this as an idea to adapt for a Palma townhouse courtyard .
Be careful with the olive trees as screening on terrace. Ours have grown and have to be taken out despite of the yearly pruning. Also they constantly shed leaves.
Nice stuff.