About Trellis Building Plans
A trellis is a straightforward vertical structure used to support climbing plants. Vegetable plants, as well as flowering and houseplant vines like roses, trumpet vine, moon-flower, sweet potato vine and cardinal climbers can be trained to a trellis. Even a novice carpenter can construct an attractive and functional trellis. Trellis building plans are numerable and variable. Consider all factors before beginning a trellis project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Advantages
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The vertical nature of a trellis provides gardeners with the opportunity to maximize growing potential. Training plants upward saves space and increases vitality by allowing more air and light to reach the plant. Pests are also easier to detect and control on trellised plants, thus reducing the need for elaborate insect control strategies. For those who have difficulty stooping over, growing plants on a trellis is an excellent choice as it markedly reduces weeding.
Materials
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Creative and prudent gardeners can use recycled materials such as old windows, netting, PVC piping or scrap metal to construct a trellis. Ecologically friendly trellis plans use grapevine, twigs, bamboo or willow. These trellises blend in with cottage gardens and provide a rustic feel to any landscape. Traditional trellis structures use pine that is durable as well as easy to paint or stain. Other trellis construction plans call for stronger woods like cedar, spruce and oak. This wood is more expensive but lasts many years and is suitable for heavy perennial vines.
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Design
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A trellis can be constructed to support the weight of heavy flowering vines. Simple lightweight trellis designs are suitable for short-term or lightweight annual climbing flowers such as morning glories or moon flowers. The easiest trellis plan calls for sticks or poles inserted in the ground near the base of a plant. Vines cling to these supports and grow upward. Tie plants to the uprights to promote vertical spread. Tepee-shaped trellis plans conjure visions of the bygone gardens where these structures were common. Tepee plans range from two poles lashed together to running tepees ideal for beans and heavy fruit crops such as melons or squash. Fence-style trellis plans are easy to assemble and a versatile addition to any garden. This design resembles a ladder and you can construct it from a wide variety of materials, including wood, PVC and metal. This design works well for plants such as ivy and climbing hydrangea when the trellis is against a wall. Standard vertical trellis shapes include fan, beacon and sundial. These trellis structures offer an ornamental appeal and provide support for light to middleweight climbing plants.
Considerations
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Before beginning any trellis project, study the habit of the plant. Vining plants have different growing habits and require certain types of trellises for optimum support. Trellises placed in highly visible locations should be attractive as well as practical. Short-term trellises are more economical to construct and can be made from materials on hand. Long-term trellises used to support heavier fruits or vines are more expensive and require stronger building materials.
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References
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- Photo Credit trellis image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com Trellis Trumpet Vines image by phipix from Fotolia.com
