How to Build a Vine Trellis
Treillage, the art of training climbing plants onto frames, has been a garden pastime since the 12th century. The key to a trellis is geometric regularity. Take advantage of trellises to force a perspective and make a garden seem larger. Trellises are also useful for hiding unsightly garden areas like compost bins. Use a simple vine trellis to add drama to a bare spot in a garden. Small trellises are easily made with dimensional lumber and provide lush displays covered with lightweight blooming climbers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- One 4-by-4-by-8 post
- Four 2-by-2-by-8 furring strips
- Post finial
- Galvanized nails
- Ten #10 4-inch all weather deck screws
- Sawhorses
- Power drill
- Saw
- Non-toxic wood preservative
- Paintbrush
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Shovel
- Gravel
- 50-pound bag fast-setting concrete
Instructions
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Choose Trellis Lumber
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1
Choose common grade dimensional lumber for this outdoor project where surface appearance doesn't matter (no need to overspend on anything fancier).
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2
Check furring strips and post lumber for flaws like warping. Put each piece on the ground, hold one end up and sight along its length. If it appears warped discard it.
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Ignore small defects like tight knotholes, but do not use cracked lumber or lumber with loose knotholes.
Make Trellis Rectangles
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Cut one of the 2-by-2-by-8 furring strips into eight 12-inch pieces. Cut the next 2-by-2 into two 12-inch and three 24-inch pieces. Cut each of the remaining 2-by-2s into four 24-inch pieces. You will have one 24-inch piece remaining, as waste.
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Paint your 2-by-2 pieces and the 4-by-4 post with a non-toxic wood preservative that is safe for plants like SoyGuard. Make sure to paint the ends. Let the preservative dry for the manufacturer's recommended time.
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Lay out five rectangles 12 inches high and 28 inches wide (24 inches plus the depth of the two 12-inch 2-by-2s on the ends). Assemble them using butt joints secured with galvanized nails.
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Measure to the middle of each 28-inch side on your rectangles and make a mark. Drill pilot holes for your decking screws in the centers of each 2-by-2 at the marks.
Secure Rectangles to Post
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Lay your post across the sawhorses. Measure 6 inches down from the top of your post and make a mark.
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Put the top of your first rectangle against the mark and line that up with the mark in the rectangle's middle. Screw to the post using a 4-inch all-weather deck screw. Put another screw through the pilot hole in the bottom of the rectangle.
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10
Rotate the post so the opposite side is up, since your rectangles will be offset. You will have three on one side and two on the other. Measure down to 18 inches and make a mark. Secure the rectangle in the same way as the first.
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Continue rotating the post and alternating the rectangles. The top of each one will begin just under the bottom of the one above. The bottom of the last rectangle will be 2 ½ feet above the post bottom to allow for 6 inches of ground clearance after the post is set.
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Secure your post finial to the top of the post.
Set the Trellis in the Ground
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Dig a hole at your chosen site 2 ½ feet deep and 10 inches in diameter. Put a 6-inch layer of gravel in the hole for drainage.
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Set the trellis in the hole and level it, then brace it in position.
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Mix the concrete according to manufacturer directions and pour around the trellis post over the gravel. Do not fill the hole with concrete. Work as much concrete as possible into the gravel without disturbing the trellis.
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Fill the rest of the hole with concrete. Draw the concrete up slightly higher in the middle where the trellis post is set to provide a runoff slope.
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Leave the bracing on the trellis for 6 hours or until the setting time of your concrete mix has elapsed.
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Tips & Warnings
A series of vine trellises can form a blooming privacy screen.
Combine fruiting vines or tomatoes with bloomers for edible landscaping.
Consider a rustic willow trellis for airy vines like clematis.
Support heavy perennial climbers like wisteria, roses, grapes and kiwis with a substantial arbor. This trellis is intended for light climbers like morning glory, sweet peas and cardinal climber.
