How to Create a Trellis

A trellis is a structure that gardeners use to support plants. Usually, it is a flat panel of crisscrossing pieces of metal, plastic or wood. You can buy a trellis at any store that offers seasonal landscaping products. The cost of a trellis varies with the design and the material. You can also create a trellis inexpensively with sticks. The design is rustic, but many gardeners use the stick trellis for practical purposes. Just obtain sticks that are straight, at least 5 feet long and 1 inch in diameter. Additional items for the project include scrap laths and 50 feet of vine, such as honeysuckle or grapevine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sticks
• Hammer
• Headless finish nails
• Lath
• Vines

1. Place 4 sticks on a flat surface. Make sure the sticks are parallel and 7 inches apart.

2. Use laths as temporary spreaders, or horizontal supports. Lay a piece of 3 foot lath across the sticks 2 inches from the top. Lightly nail the lath in place with a hammer. Repeat with a second piece across the bottom.

3. Create the crosspieces with loosely woven vine. Start in the middle of the sticks or 2 ½ feet from the top and weave a piece of vine over and under the sticks. Continue weaving side to side until 5 rows are complete. Repeat the weave pattern at the top and bottom of the sticks.

4. Attach vines to the sticks with nails. It's not necessary to secure every vine. Just use a few nails.

5. Remove the laths. Use the hammer claw to take out the nails.

6. Insert the trellis into garden soil or plant container.

Tips & Warnings

• Trim any of the stick's side branches before you create a trellis. Cotton string works well as a substitute for vine. If you want more support, then use bamboo to create a trellis.
• This trellis will not support heavy plants like squash. It supports lighter plants like peas and beans.

Resources

• How to Create a Trellis at Oregon Live
• More Trellis Ideas at Mother Earth News
• Twig Trellis at DIY Network