How to Trellis a Mandevilla Mailbox
The mandevilla is a glossy-leaved tropical vine that is loved for its large, trumpet-like flowers of red, white, pink or yellow. Often used as a summer annual, a popular use is to allow it to climb and ramble upon a mailbox, softening its lines with flowers and spiraling stems. Attaching a trellis to a mailbox is simple, however different approaches are taken if the mailbox post is wood or metal. Nailing into a wood post is straightforward, but in metal or plastic mailbox posts, install the trellis directly into the soil for greatest stability. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pre-fabricated trellis form
- Shovel
- Hammer
- 1.5 inch nails
- Hand Trowel
- 6 to 10 inch piece of bendable wire
Instructions
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Wood-Post Mailboxes
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1
Measure the height of the mailbox post with a tape measure or yardstick. Note if there are any ornaments or protrusions on the post that may affect an easy attachment of a small trellis. Jot down any measurement coordinates where a support beam or address number sign protrudes on the post so that an appropriately sized or shaped trellis can be acquired.
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2
Purchase a trellis at the local garden center or hardware store. Using the measurements and other coordinates from Step 1, choose a trellis that is no taller than the mailbox post and also is a color and style/design you find attractive. Ideally select a wooden trellis that can easily be nailed.
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3
Buy nails at the store that are the right length to fully reach through the trellis wood and penetrate at least 1/2 inch into the mailbox post.
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4
Rest the trellis up against the mailbox post and adjust its height as needed for best aesthetics and stability. Keep the base of the trellis off the ground by at least 2 inches to reduce moisture and rot from the wet soil or rain splash.
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5
Tap nails into the wood or pilot holes on the trellis with a hammer, driving them into the mailbox post so that the trellis is secure and sturdy. Make small taps on the nail to avoid bending the nail as it is driven in. If the mailbox post is wobbly, ask a friend to hold the post while you drive the nails into it.
Concrete or Brick-Structure Mailboxes
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6
Measure the height of the mailbox structure or metal post with a tape measure or yardstick. Note if there are any ornaments or protrusions on the post that may affect an easy attachment of a small trellis. Jot down any measurement coordinates where a support beam or address number sign protrudes on the post so that an appropriately sized or shaped trellis can be acquired.
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7
Purchase a non-wooden trellis at the local garden center or hardware store. Using the measurements and other coordinates from Step 1, choose a trellis that is no taller than the mailbox post and also is a color and style/design you find attractive. A vinyl or heavy-grade plastic trellis is ideal as it will not rust or rot.
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8
Dig a small hole with a hand trowel or shovel 4 to 8 inches from the base of the mailbox on the side where you wish to have the trellis. Dig as many holes as needed based on the design of the purchased trellis.
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9
Wedge the trellis into the ground holes and lean it back onto the metal post or mailbox structure so that it is sturdy and stable.
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10
Wire the top on the trellis in at least one location onto the mailbox post if there is an area to secure a piece of wire. Or, additional stability arises from pushing the trellis base more deeply into the soil or wedging small stones into the holes and filling with soil.
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Tips & Warnings
Train and guide the elongating stems of mandevilla so that it best covers the trellis. Upright floppy stems and tuck them into the trellis to encourage vining and coverage.
Mandevilla grows when temperatures are warm and there is no frost or subfreezing temperatures.
Depending on length of growing season, the vining plant can grow to a height of 4 to 6 feet, and may be pruning back lightly as needed to keep it at an appropriate size on the mailbox.
If constructing a new mailbox, consider incorporating a long-lasting metal or wood trellis in the design that will allow for continued planting of vines such as morning glory, hyacinth bean or moonflower each new growing season.
In windy locations, extra support will be required to prevent the trellis from toppling.
Avoid using cement as a foundation for the trellis as the chemicals emitted from the concrete can affect the health and vigor of the nearby mandevilla plant.
