How to Build a Wood Trellis

You can build a wood trellis.

Consider an easy landscaping DIY project like a wood trellis for your garden, walkway or yard path. These elegant structures add vertical height, provide calming tranquility and dress up your front or backyard setting. Trellises give any garden classical character as well as seasonal charm. A garden arbor or trellis can make a dramatic change to your outdoor living area, and you can build it in just one weekend. Update your garden design with these easy steps to build your own wood trellis.

Things You'll Need

• Pressure treated wood
• Saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Concrete footings
• Posthole digger
• Concrete

Instructions

1. Select your material carefully. Build your arbor or trellis with pressure treated wood. There are a number of choices available. One popular building material is cedar because of its stability, all-natural look and good smell. It's naturally durable, resilient and lightweight. Cedar ages nicely, blends well with outdoor surroundings and is resistant to decay. And as an added bonus, cedar is one of the most environmentally-friendly building materials available.

2. Plan your trellis layout with careful attention to detail. Consider the proportions of both the foundational posts and the overhead canopy. A good rule of thumb is to use a set of 4-inch by 4-inch posts with 2-inch by 6-inch overhead boards. Make sure the posts are vertically straight and even in height, and ensure the overhead canopy boards are level and evenly spaced in parallel to each other.

3. Prepare your area. Prior to digging your post holes, remove all rocks and plants that may be in the way. If you have special perennials or garden ornaments where you plan to locate your trellis, set them aside and then add them back once the trellis has been built.

   Posts must be put solidly into the ground. It's best to secure your posts to concrete footings. Remember that the portion of the post that will be below the ground should be treated with a preservative. You can build or buy concrete footings, but make sure the foundational posts are level. And be certain your posts are long enough to provide ample headroom once the trellis is complete.

4. Construct your arbor canopy. After the posts are in place add 2-inch x 12-inch x 12-inch square post caps on top of each post. This step is important because it helps disperse the load more evenly so the posts can handle the weight of the overhead boards. Also, it provides a nice finishing touch to the structure.

5. Personalize your garden trellis. Consider adding unique decorative flair to your new trellis or arbor. The possibilities are endless here. Make it personal by adding a decorative touch to complement both the landscaping and the architectural feel of your house.

6. Add your final touches. If you moved any perennials or garden ornaments, now is the time to strategically replace them around your trellis. When choosing where to place your plants and flowers, the amount of sun and moisture the area gets must be taken into consideration. When visualizing your final masterpiece, remember that flowers and vines grow tightly around the support. Let your imagination be your guide.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure twice, cut once.