How to Anchor an Arbor in the Garden

Published August 23, 2021

Johnny Hunt

Gardening Enthusiast

Are you looking for a way to beautify or add shade to your garden? If your answer is yes, this guide on how to anchor an arbor is what you need to go through. A garden arbor is a vertical structured used in landscaping that adds numerous characters to your garden. In a garden, it can serve as a shelter, a shade, or an accent.

You can even add several hanging plants or flowers to add more appeal. Typically constructed from wood or metal, skills in garden arbor installation are essential to ensure you have a perfect piece of décor in your garden space. This is why below, I’ve shared a short, yet, detailed guide on how to perfect a garden arbor anchoring.

Why Are Garden Arbor Anchors Important?

Garden anchors are extremely important as they play a significant role in arbor installations. For your arbor to be effective and safe to use, it needs to be well secured.

Anchoring prevents the arbors from tipping over due to factors such as the wind or heavy loads.

Thus, for a full installation, you need to secure both four sides of each footing of your arbor.

Steps For Garden Arbor Installation

There are several ways you can anchor a garden arbor. Amongst the popular methods for doing so include spiral ground anchoring, post base, and concrete blocks (filling cement into holes).

Materials Needed

For Spiral Ground Anchors

Garden arbor
18-inch reinforcement steel (rebar)
5-inch screws
Drill

For Post Base

Garden arbor
Bolt down anchor kit
Shovel
Wet concrete
Elevated post bases
Tape measure
Scrap four-by-four post

For the Concrete Set

Garden arbor
Shovel
Gravel
Scrap boards
Wet concrete

Spiral Ground Anchors

Erect the arbor in the garden location you want it to be and mark the vertical post placing on the ground.
Insert 18-inch reinforcement steel horizontally through the top of the spiral ground anchor. This helps to split the two sides.
Next, place the pointed end of the anchors on the ground where you marked the placing for the bottom arch legs.
Push the anchor into the ground with the reinforcement steel. At the same time, twist the reinforcement steel clockwise to further push the anchor into the ground until the arch legs have securely settled into the ground.
Lastly, insert the arch legs into the bracket or upright supports at the top of the anchor. Insert and secure 2.5-inch screws into pre-drilled holes in the brackets to secure the garden arches into the anchors and you should be done.

Post Base Anchor

Erect the arch in the desired location in your garden and mark locations where you will attach the arbor legs onto the ground.
Dig a hole (12 inches deep using a shovel) that is two times bigger than the post leg diameters.
Pour a wet concrete mix into the hole and insert elevated post bases into the concrete – this will result in the flushing of the bracket with the top of the concrete.
Measure the distance between the arch legs using a tape measure to help center the brackets so they can fit the legs.
Level the bracket using a bubble level and inserting four-by-four post scrap into the brackets.
When done, allow the concrete to dry and repeat this step for all the legs.

Concrete Set (Filling Blocks With Cement)

Erect the arch in the desired location in your garden and mark locations where you will attach the arbor legs onto the ground.
Dig four 18-inch holes for each arch leg using a shovel (the holes should be three times the diameter of the posts).
To prevent the arch legs from sinking too deep, shape the bottom of the hole flat and wider than the top.
Add and tamp down dirt using the shovel, add gravel to the holes to feel up at least a 6-inch depth, and lightly tamp the gravel.
Attach the feet of the arches into the holes and place a level flat and vertically against the posts to set them together.
When installing the arch, place scrap boards to support them.
Pour wet concrete into the holes and adjust the arch level and plumb based on your preferences.
Once done, allow the concrete to slightly dry and cure for at least 2 hours.
Check to see the arches are at the level you want – if not, you can adjust them.
Let the concrete dry fully and then, you can remove the braces.