How to Build a Garden Trellis
Building a trellis for your garden is a great way to spruce up the look of your garden while also saving a ton of space. A trellis can be many different sizes and shapes, and that will ultimately be up to you and the space that you have. We will be working on a standard rectangle trellis. The other question you will have to answer is what will be growing on this trellis. If you are simply growing something lightweight, like ivy, then you can work with slighter and smaller strips of wood. If you plan on growing cucumbers and squash, you will need a bit more support. The trellis we will work with will be a medium weight, good for some small cucumbers and other medium weight vegetables. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Sketch out the size and dimension of your trellis. Include the amount of upright and horizontal supports that you would like on your trellis. Standard trellis dimensions will call for 8-12 inch spaces. Smaller spaces for smaller plants, however. Also note that an odd number of uprights will be most appealing.
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2
Choose solid, pressure treated redwood lumber to meet the dimensions of your trellis. You will want 5/8"x1½" for the uprights and cross beams, 2"x2" for the side and bottom supports and 2"x6" for the top support.
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3
Cut the interior pieces of lumber to the correct length for your trellis.
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4
Lay the trellis out, face down, the way that you sketched it, starting with the upright pieces.
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5
Lay the cross beams down, using waterproof glue wherever two pieces of wood intersect. Use nails or screws to secure each intersection once you have the trellis laid out.
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6
Cut the side, bottom and top supports for the trellis. Be sure to remember if your design had additional wood sticking out of the bottom for mounting into the ground, and cut accordingly.
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7
Attach the two side supports to the top of the frame (the 2x6) using countersunk screws.
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8
Slide the trellis into the frame. It should fit perfectly, assuming you measured correctly. The back of the trellis should be flush with the back of the frame.
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9
Slide the bottom support of the frame (the 2x2) into place and mount to the frame using wood glue and countersunk screws.
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Tips & Warnings
Measure and cut accurately, or you will end up with a lopsided or messy trellis. If you are looking to make a stronger trellis, use 1x1 or 2x2 for the grid and 2x4s for the side and bottom supports and 4x6 for the top.
