How to Build an Inexpensive Trellis

We put trellises in our gardens so plants can grow and cover them. Often we buy expensive trellises made from wood or plastic that can look very nice, but are soon covered up and no one has any idea what the trellis is made from. It could have cost $200.00 USD and be hand crafted, but the morning glory or the begnonia or the passiflora does not care and covers it up anyway. So why not build an inexpensive trellis ourselves, and do it in an afternoon.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two green fence posts
• Length of coated fencing or
• Two landscape timbers
• 4' x 8' piece of lattice or
• Two metal posts
• Length of chain link fencing
• 11 gauge 6.5" tie wire
• Brass or marine screws
• QuickCrete concrete
• Shovel
• Post hole digger
• Level

Install a Green Trellis

1. Use a hammer to pound in the first green fence post. It will have hooks up and down the length of it to hang the green metal coated fence on.

2. Pound the second green fence post in as far away as you want your trellis to be long. If you make it longer than 6 feet, use a third fence post in the middle, so you have a post every 3 feet.

3. Unroll the fencing and attach it on one of the fence posts.

4. Continue to unroll it to the last post and attach it to that one. Sight down the length and make sure the fence is level. If it is not, pound a post in more. Continue until the fence is level. If you need to do more than pound a post in a little ways, detach the fence from one of the posts and move it up or down on the hangers.

Install a Landscape Timber Trellis

5. Dig a hole 18 inches straight into the ground. Use a shovel or better yet, a post hole digger, available at any big box store.

6. Put the landscape timber into the hole.

7. Mix QuickCrete and pour one bag into the hole. Mix the concrete stiff, so the timber can be plumbed and leveled. Allow it to dry overnight, checking occasionally to see if it remains plumb and level. Repeat with the second landscape timber 4" shy of 8'

8. Attach the lattice to both timbers using brass screws. Ensure it is level. It should be screwed in about midway on the width of each landscape timber. Screw in one screw and then use your level before you put in the second screw. Put 4 to 6 screws in each side attaching the lattice to the landscape timber.

Build a Trellis Using Metal Fencing

9. Dig a hole 12 inches straight into the ground. Use a shovel or better yet, a post hole digger, available at any big box store. If you are using short fencing posts and 4 foot chain link material, your trellis can be elevated 2 feet above the ground, so you have a 6 foot tall trellis.

10. Put the metal post into the hole.

11. Mix QuickCrete and pour one bag into the hole. Mix the concrete stiff, so the post can be plumbed and leveled. Allow it to dry overnight, checking occasionally to see if it remains plumb and level. Repeat with the second pole.

12. Attach the piece of chain link fence with 11 gauge 6.5 inch tie wire. Level it and attach to the other metal post.

13. Add climbing plants when the concrete is completely dry and the trellises are sturdy.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves if you use concrete. The lime in it burns your hands.