How to Make a Lattice Structure for Ivy to Grow

Lattice can change the look of your garden and add character.

Growing ivy is one way to cover an unsightly wall, screen views from neighbors or the road and form walls around your property to divide spaces. By making a standalone lattice structure you can position the structure wherever you want the ivy to climb. Once the lattice structure or screen is complete, you can place it wherever it will be useful for growing the ivy. You can use it as a single unit or make more than one and place them side by side.

Things You'll Need

• 2 posts, 3-by-3-inches-by-9 1/2 feet
• 2 boards, 2-by-3-inches-by-4 feet
• Galvanized screws, 1 1/2 inches
• 8 L-brackets, 1-inch wide
• Lattice section, 4-by-8 feet
• Shovel
• Pea gravel

Instructions

1. Lay two 3-by-3-inch-by-9 1/2-foot posts on a flat surface running parallel and spaced 4 feet apart. Position the two 2-by-3-inch boards between the posts so your materials look like a rectangle. Make sure the boards are resting on their 3-inch width.

2. Adjust one of the boards to run between the posts at the top. Adjust the other board to rest 18 inches above the other end of the posts. The section of the posts below the lower board will form legs along the bottom of the unit.

3. Secure each corner of the structure with an L-bracket, using galvanized screws to attach the posts to the boards. Flip the unit over and secure an L-bracket over each of the corners along the other side. Flip the unit back over.

4. Lay your lattice section over the framework. Let it fall between the posts and rest on top of the 2-by-3-inch boards. Insert a screw through the lattice and into the 4-foot boards at each point where they meet along both the top and bottom edges of the lattice.

5. Dig two holes in the location where your ivy is already growing or where you want it to grow, four 4 feet apart and 18 inches deep. Fill the bottom 3 to 4 inches of each hole with pea gravel.

6. Stand the lattice unit upright and slip the legs of the unit into the prepared holes. Fill in the holes around the legs with soil and pack it down firmly to hold the lattice in place. Train your ivy to climb the lattice as it grows.

Tips & Warnings

• Use cedar materials, when possible, because of its rot resistance.

• Paint the unit with an oil-based semi-transparent stain to increase water resistance and extend the life of the structure.

• If you anticipate winds around the area where you’re placing your lattice structure, add an additional 2-by-3-inch board running horizontally across the middle of the frame. Screw the lattice to this board as well for added support.

References

• The Complete Backyard Book; Murdoch Books
• Making Arbors & Trellises; Marcianne Miller and Olivier Rollin