Is your garden suffering from a case of the dreaded "flat and boring" syndrome? If so, a quick shot of height will help alleviate the symptoms. Here are 5 easy ways to give your garden some much-needed vertical lift.

The Potting Shed

Green Scene June 2001

1. Arches and Pergolas

The classic vertical accent in a garden is, of course, the arch. From a romantic wrought-iron arch covered with roses to a dramatic Zen entryway carefully pegged together in wood, arches are an easy way to draw the eye upwards.  Better still, they are available everywhere, from nurseries and home centers to mail-order catalogs and the Internet.

For even more drama, consider a pergola that would cover your favorite walkway. What could be more enchanting than strolling down a walk with roses and clematis blowing in the wind over your head. Granted, it's more laborious to build one, but the results are well worth it. And if neither an arch nor a pergola suit you, there's always the covered bench, perfect for sitting out the heat of summer under a canopy of lovely, fragrant blossoms.

2.  Fences, Gates and Walls

Alas, people don't employ garden walls as much as they should, especially in the US, where they are considered antisocial or undemocratic. But walls and their less-expensive cousins, wooden fences, can neatly delineate a garden space from the rest of one's property. In addition, they can create privacy and with solid construction, help reduce nearby road noise.  You can also attach wires or a trellis to you wall and grow anything on it, from peas to fruit trees.

To top it off, you can get a garden gate to finish the picture, be it a humble wooden one or one of the amazing iron creations from local artisan Greg Leavitt, whose work has been featured at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

3. Elevated Focal Points

A well-placed focal point can make a garden; a poorly sited one can ruin it. To add vericality to a scene, consider a tall sculpture, an Asian lantern or a decorative placque.

4. Grasses

If your idea of adding height is to find something easy and foolproof, buy ornamental grasses. Properly sited and planted favorites like pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), ravenna grass  (Saccharium ravennae, syn. Erianthus) fountain grass (Panicum virgatum) will thrive and look beautiful, especially in winter (though be waryof the popular Miscanthus sinensis, which can be somewhat invasive).

And here's a grassy head's up: The feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster' (Calamagrostis acutifolia) has been selected as the 2001 Plant of the Year by the Perennial plant Association.

5. Art and Sculpture

A classical nude. A traditional gazing ball.  Or something completely different. Wherever your tastes lie, a fine piece of artwork can both enliven a garden and give it energy.  You can buy it or make it yourself. The key to finding art, of course, is to choose something you truly like vs. something you think will impress your neighbors.  Express yourself.