Fencing has become more widely accepted over the past few decades shifting from a simple enclosure to keep in pets or livestock to very refined architectural enclosures.  Different styles of fencing can be used to screen out unwanted sites, to allow specific baffles of privacy, to form a full enclosure creating and outdoor room.   

Trellises and arbors are normally built to introduce ceiling to the outdoor space.  They can allow filtering for intense summer sun.  When combined with vines and other plantings the density of the overhead canopy can be adjusted to meet filtering needed. 

Another use of the trellis can be one of transition.  In conjunction with a garden door or gate it can be used as a planted transition piece from one garden room to the next.  They can also be used on excessively large or bare walls to bring them more to a human scale. 

Many different materials are now available for these architectural accents.  Wood has the greatest ability to be cut, molded, and shaped.  It is also relatively inexpensive.  The downside to its use however is its ability to resist warping, shrinking, and rotting.   

Wrought iron probably is one of the most ornate materials used for fencing, trellises, and arbors.  It’s screening ability is more limited than wood.  More combined efforts with planting is necessary to increase the visual density of wrought iron screens.  Structurally, it is one of the most stable and long-lived materials available.  There are many different details that can be chosen and combined to get a unique result.  The cost, however, might be prohibitive to some projects. 

Aluminum fencing is becoming more widely used today when budget cannot substantiate the cost of wrought iron.  It brings a bit of stateliness to some projects but in our opinion is still a severe compromise.

Advancements have been made with the use of vinyl fencing as well.  The advantage is its absolute resistance to moisture.  Normally it would never require paint.  Pressure washing is mostly what is required to restore it to its original state.  Selections in style are still restrictive.  The ability to modify vinyl to fit special conditions and dimensions is nowhere near wood or wrought iron.