Garden Trellis
Plans and Instructions for a Simple Wooden Trellis
If you’re planning to build a simple garden
trellis, trellis plans are very easy to make yourself.
Anyone with a few basic carpentry skills and a
reasonably good head for geometry can build a trellis
from a basic trellis plan.
Trellises can be made from a range of materials,
including copper, cast iron, wood, wood composites, or
durable vinyl materials. The material you choose will
determine the look and feel of the trellis, and the
types of plants it will be able to support.
Three Steps to Building a
Simple Wooden Trellis
Here is a basic plan for a small trellis, which can
be anywhere between one to three feet in height. This
type of trellis will support small, delicate climbing
vines like sweet pea, jasmine or honeysuckle.
First you’ll need some small plywood slats, and
some thicker pieces of wood to use as frame posts. Lay
the slats in a crisscross pattern, secure them with
glue, then nail or screw them together. Nail the
lattice to the trellis frame posts, so that they
extend down around a foot or so.
You’re ready to plant your trellis in the garden.
It may be freestanding, or next to a wall, but make
sure you leave yourself enough room for watering and
pruning. Dig holes for the trellis frame posts, and
place gravel in the bottom for drainage and stability,
then simply plant the trellis.
All you need now is your climbing plant. Plant your
vine about six inches away from the base of the
trellis. Some vines will naturally grip the trellis as
they grow, while others will need you to help them a
little, by securing the tendrils to the lattice using
nylon thread or some old pantyhose.
For more information on trellises, please read this
article on
installing copper trellises and arbors.
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