How Do I Build a Copper Pipe Trellis?
You can buy a trellis at a garden center or plant nursery, but if you plan to grow heavy ornamental plants, you will need a strong, sturdy trellis. Woody climbing plants such as climbing roses or wisteria can exert tremendous pressure on your trellis. If you plan to hand-make your trellis, a copper trellis will assemble easily and yet be sturdy enough to take the weight of these heavy ornamental plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Chalk
- 3-inch copper tubing
- Copper tubing cutter
- 3-inch T-shaped fittings
- 3-inch elbow fittings
- Soldering torch
- Flux solder
- Pliers
Instructions
-
-
1
Sketch out your trellis design on paper with a pencil. Use this design to figure out the pipe lengths you will need, as well as the number of elbow and T-shaped fittings you will need. For an 8-foot ladder-style trellis, you will need eight lengths of 2-foot-long copper pipe, four lengths of 3-foot pipe, six T-shaped fittings and two elbow fittings.
-
2
Measure the lengths of the pipe that you need from your copper tubing and mark them along the length of the tubing with chalk. Cut the lengths of pipe using a pipe cutter, or have the pieces cut in the hardware store when you purchase the pipe.
-
-
3
Sort the 2-foot-long pieces of pipe into two even piles. Form the sides of the trellis by linking the 2-foot pieces of pipe together by inserting a pipe end into each end of the T-shaped pipe fittings. Place an elbow joint at one end of each set of pipes.
-
4
Join the two trellis sides together by placing a 3-foot-long piece of pipe into each elbow and T-fitting of one trellis side. Next, place the other end of the 3-foot-long pieces of pipe into the elbow and T-fittings of the other trellis side. Your trellis should now resemble an 8-foot-tall ladder.
-
5
Secure the pipe fittings by melting flux into each pipe joint. Hold the flux wire roll in one hand with the flux unrolled and extended. Place the flux against the seam of the pipe fitting. Hold a torch against the flux to melt it. The melted flux will run into the cracks of the joint. When it dries, the flux will form a secure bond.
-
6
Crimp the pipe ends at the bottom of the trellis into a point. This will make the trellis easier to insert into the ground.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure you know where all buried utility lines are located before you insert your trellis in the ground. Serious injury or death may occur if you insert a copper trellis in a buried electrical line.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Roses ahnging from a trellis. image by LiteWave from Fotolia.com
