How to Make a Trellis

A garden trellis is a great way to add beauty to your garden. A trellis can be as simple as a few pieces of wood tied together in a ladder style or as elaborate as an arbor with seats. A trellis not only adds beauty to the garden, it also provides stability for delicate climbing plants or roses. Use these steps to make a simple trellis.

Materials List

Six 2" x 2" x 10' posts

Nine 2" x 2" x 8' posts

A large bail of natural twine

Tape measure

Utility knife

Post hole digger

Hammer

Step One - Select a flat level area in the garden for your trellis, then measure out the width and length to fit the space.

Step Two - Mark the location of the trellis' four corner posts and two center posts by removing a bit of topsoil with the post hole digger. The base should be in the shape of a rectangle. Use the post hole digger to dig down about 12 inches at each of your marked points.

Step Three - Use the hammer to drive the six 2" x 2" x 10' poles into the earth.

Step Four - Pull the poles across from each other into a "V" formation. Cut the natural twine into three, four foot sections with the utility knife and use it to tie the poles securely together.

Step Five - Lash the remaining 2" x 2" x 8' poles with twine and knots in the same manner as in step four at chosen intervals perpendicular to the poles in the ground. Tighten the twine as you work with each pole to ensure stability of the structure.

Step Six - When finished the trellis will appear as a triangular teepee structure.

Step Seven - Attach your plants to the structure.