Garden trellises can do wonders for any outdoor space: their height makes them ideal focal points, lending an architectural feel that looks beautiful as well as serving a practical purpose. Most people simply think of them either as decorative accents or utilitarian plant supports, but in fact they have myriad uses in the garden that you may not have previously considered. These graceful, charming garden accents come in handy as solutions for many problems gardeners face when trying to make their garden the best it can be.

A common issue many gardeners come across is the matter of air conditioners, trash bins, oil tanks, pipes, wires or other items that are unsightly but necessary. These items can become eyesores in an otherwise beautiful setting, drawing attention away from your lovely flowers and carefully chosen accents. Garden trellises can act as screens to shield these unattractive items from view, providing instead a striking silhouette covered in climbing vines. A great way to use garden trellises to hide such items while still having easy access is to stick the trellises into garden pots on casters – you’ll be able to simply roll them out of the way when necessary and the casters will barely be noticeable, especially in grassy areas.

Similarly, garden trellises make wonderful privacy screens to shield your private outdoor space from neighboring windows, or fill in open spaces between trees. Often times, homes are built so close together that the view from your windows may be straight into your neighbor’s home. Trellises can solve this problem in your side yard, around your porch or deck, or anywhere else you’d prefer a decorative accent over the current view.

For an elegant and unexpected garden light, weave a string of lights through a trellis. This looks especially beautiful when the trellis is already covered in ivy or a flowering vine. You’ll enjoy a soft, romantic effect with minimal cost and effort – string lights can even be found in battery-operated or solar models.

Whether your garden style is eclectic, modern, formal or anything in between, you can find a garden trellis that will fit in perfectly, blending with other elements in the landscape. Decorative wrought iron trellises complement nearly any garden style, with graceful fluid shapes that have a romantic feel. Another popular choice is simpler garden trellises with clean lines, made of wood or metal. For a selection of high quality garden trellises, check out SpecialtyLiving.com, an online home and garden resource.

Article by Stephanie Gottschalk. Stephanie writes the blogs ‘Picnic Fun – Tips and Recipes’ and ‘The Joy of Water Fountains’ for Specialty Living Inc., an Asheville, North Carolina-based company that aims to share their love of people, nature and life through high quality water fountains and outdoor living products. Stephanie Gottschalk may be contacted at http://www.kineticfountains.com