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A trellis is a lattice-work or fan-shaped structure designed to support climbing vines. Trellises can be made of metal but are more frequently made of wood. Trellises can be sunken into the ground with posts, leaned against a structure or even fastened to a structure, such as a house or garden shed. Usually rectangular or fan-shaped, trellises can be built in fanciful shapes as well. All trellises offer long supports and crossbars for vining plants, like wisteria, morning glory, clematis and climbing roses, to grow vertically.
Trellises can also be built in the form of arches to frame a pathway or hold a garden-gate. Trellising is a critical element of constructing a pergola. - While trellises have the single purpose of supporting plant growth, pergolas have two purposes: support of vining plants and provision of garden shade for people. While pergolas can be created in a number of shapes, tradition dictates two trellised walls and a trellised roof. Not all pergolas serve plants. Builders may admire the bare lines enough that they prefer to leave them unplanted, arranging chairs and a table or draping it with fabric to produce the simplest of shady outdoor rooms. To provide a variety of light-and-shade effects, old pergolas are sometimes roofed with flat planks set on edge; at different times of day, varying amounts of sun penetrate this distinctive roof. Getting shade from vining plants is still a delight. Lunch eaten under a pergola covered with ripening grapes or passion-flower vine is like no other meal!
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Now that terminology is clear, your most important decision relates to how much is enough. Consult with your local nursery to find out how large a vining plant will become, and roughly how many years this growth will take. If you are intrigued by growing grapes, wisteria, climbing hydrangea, large old roses or a small number of clematis varieties, these are all big vines which can use the support of a pergola. Remember that you will need to place your pergola in the sunniest part of your yard for best plant-growth.
Annual vines, such as morning glory or cardinal, smaller clematis and smaller climbing roses, will respond better to trellis support. Take good care of your climbers and they may surprise you with just how much trellis they would like! You still made the right choice, even if you have to prune a bit.
Whichever you choose to build in your yard, these supports will look good on their own and even better supporting beautiful blooms.
