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What is a Pergola?

Answer:
An interesting way to transition from an indoor space to a garden space

is the installation of a structure known as a pergola. A pergola is essentially a series of posts or pillars placed along a garden walkway, with an open roof structure covered with vines and other climbing plants.

A pergola is sometimes confused with a similar garden structure known as an arbor, but they serve somewhat different purposes. A pergola may start and end with an arbor, but an arbor is designed to be more of a full enclosure over a small area rather than a extensive pathway. A pergola may also extend directly from a main house to a garden area or an outbuilding such as a garden shed or gazebo. The modern pergola is an improvement over an older method in which thin trees were tied together to form a natural arch over a walkway or garden path.

Pergolas are often featured in the green spaces of many European cities, but the use of pergolas in the United States has waned in recent years. Home gardeners may decide to install a pergola in order to provide support for climbers, grapevines and certain varieties of berry plants which can be trained to grow vertically.