A beginner’s
guide to designing and building a rose trellis.
A
rose trellis
makes a wonderfully romantic feature of your
garden landscape design. You can choose from a
huge selection of rose trellises which are
available to order online, in natural wood,
durable vinyl, or elegant copper, cast iron or
steel.
If you have a few basic carpentry skills, it’s
very easy to design and build a wooden trellis
yourself - in fact; a hand-made trellis can have a
wonderfully unique rustic look.
Three important trellis
design tips:
1. Make sure the trellis is large
and strong enough to support the rose bush as it
matures.
A rose bush is a large, heavy plant which
requires a solid, strong trellis structure with a
secure foundation. A concrete reinforced foundation
is best.
The lattice of the trellis will need to be wide
enough to allow room for the canes of the rose bush
to grow, and also for you to prune the bush
comfortably.
2. Allow the canes to grow horizontally, rather
than vertically.
The canes are the main structural shoots of the
rose bush. A trellis design which allows the canes
to grow horizontally will produce more flowers than
a vertical rose tower.
3. Choose the optimum position for the trellis.
If you plan to place the trellis against a wall,
position it a few feet away from the wall to allow
air to circulate around the rose bush, and to ensure
you have enough room to prune it.
A freestanding trellis is best positioned so that
it is perpendicular to the prevailing wind
direction, or in a position which is sheltered from
strong wind.
For more information on trellises, please read
this article on
wrought iron trellises and arbors.
