Should You Build A Pergola or A Green Tunnel?

The term pergola gets thrown around to mean a number of different garden structures. A traditional pergola is a timber structure which incor...

The term pergola gets thrown around to mean a number of different garden structures. A traditional pergola is a timber structure which incorporates a latticed roof to support climbing vines and creepers. This successful Adelaide pergolas style allows in plenty of light and air flow while cutting out the harsh sun and harmful UV ray exposure.

By contrast, a green tunnel is a much less permanent style of structure. A green tunnel provides a curved frame on which creepers can grow until the entire structure is covered. Unlike pergolas, it is often made of a metal frame. Timber would be considered too tricky to work with, and metal suffices because the frame should not be seen once the plants have grown. Green tunnels were originally used in renaissance and medieval gardens where trees lined either side of a walkway. The tops of the boughs are then tied together and the trees are trained to grow together until they form an archway.

Green tunnels tend to be successful in much larger areas, such as a public park or botanic gardens. They require a fair bit of training and effort in the early stages to make sure that they will grow together well. They also require more ongoing maintenance compared to a pergola. If you choose the traditional route of training lines of trees then you will need to prune extensively and regularly. Even if you choose to grow around a metal frame, it is still a lot more work than just a small pergola.



A pergola offers a more dappled sunlight to the people sitting beneath rather than full shade. When you build a structure such as this in your garden, you want to be sure that you will be able to use it year long. While the full shade cast by a tunnel may be well appreciated in summer, in winter it is going to be left untended and unused. A pergola on the other hand can keep out the very harsh sun in summer, while the open walls allow the lower winter rays to flood in.

Pergolas are generally more versatile than green tunnels. The latter is just that; a tunnel, meaning it takes the walker from A to B. On many residential properties, there is simply not enough outdoor space to justify an extravagant walkway such as this. Only on large properties, perhaps in the Adelaide Hills, would you be able to grow a green tunnel without completely closing off the space. Pergolas can act as either shelters for a sitting area or coverings over a walkway. In either case, their open walls mean that they can be placed in more confined areas while still helping the garden to look bigger and more open.

There is more choice when it comes to decorating a pergola, so the homeowner has their chance to add a personal stamp. Only certain trees will be able to be used to form a green tunnel, and once they are matured there is not much else to be done. Under a pergola however, you can choose a beautiful terracotta tile for the floor, a rustic timber table and bench, and not to mention an array of hanging and standing plants.

Modern pergolas may not necessarily use timber, and plenty work with steel and other metals for a contemporary feel.  A clever architect will be able to incorporate a pergola into the space available and make it work with any style or décor. Please get in touch with Pergolarific at Premium Adelaide Pergolas Styles.