How to Build a Trellis

Trellises have a number of useful purposes for your yard. They provide protection for your plants, offer some beautiful decor and fill empty space in your yard. Unfortunately, many people are hesitant to try out the wonders of a trellis because premade ones can be rather expensive. Luckily they are easy to build! Listed below are the steps on how to build a trellis.

Building a Trellis for a Vegetable Garden, Siding and More

There are many different areas of your backyard in which you may want to build a trellis and the exact purpose of your specific trellis will influence how you go about building it. There are many advantages to having a trellis in your vegetable gardens. When properly built and installed, they "teach" your vegetables to grow up rather than out and under the ground. If you have a small garden area or if you have many plants you wish to garden, a trellis is an easy way to allow you to enjoy more space. Having vegetables grow on trellises also gives your garden more aesthetic appeal. Seeing the vegetables grow before your eyes can be very rewarding.

Trellises also work well as siding on your house. While many individuals enjoy the aesthetic nature of vines growing up the siding of their house, these vines can wreak havoc over time. Adding a trellis as a barrier between your vines and your house will allow you to enjoy the look of the vines climbing up the house without damaging the home itself. These trellises are generally taller than those used in a vegetable garden and thus require more materials, but they are very similar (and easy!) to build on your own.

Prep Area for Installation of the Trellis Panel

Before you can begin building your trellis panel, you need to make sure that you have a spot cleared out for it. If you are building a trellis panel for your garden, you want to be sure that the area you choose is suitable for plants to thrive. Depending on what you are planning to grow in your garden, make sure that you have an adequate amount of sunshine and space. This will ensure that your plants remain healthy and thrive. Plants growing on a trellis are more exposed to the elements, so you want to be sure that the area you choose is able to provide protection. Once you have decided on a spot, clear it of any large debris and then prepare your area as you would for gardening.

If you are building a trellis panel to go over a side of your house, you want to find a spot that is both structurally sound and visually appealing. Consider whether you want the trellis to face the front or the backyard. Are there any doors nearby that could possibly impede growth or make it difficult to enter your home? Once you have chosen your spot, clean the ground of any debris and make sure that the wall of your home is clean as well.

Building the Trellis

All that is truly needed to build a trellis is some lumber and a couple of screws. If you want to make your trellis look more appealing, you can also use wood stain or paint. You should then decide how big the trellis will need to be. When you go to cut your lumber for the frame, remember that they double as posts. This means that they must be long enough to be buried under the frost line while also leaving a foot of clearance between the frame and the ground. With all said and done, about one-third of the post will be in the ground.

How you cut the lumber beside the posts is up to you and the overall design you want your trellis to have. For a straightforward approach, place your posts as far apart as you want the width to be. This distance can vary from 4-5 inches to up to a foot apart, depending on the size of your area and the amount of space you want to take. Then, you can simply cut the rest of your lumber to line up, straight across following the measurements. For those who would like to be more creative, consider creating a zig-zag pattern in your trellis. The lumber you cut for your zig-zag pattern should be ¾ the length of your post if you wish to create a 45 degree angle. Others prefer to incorporate lattice fencing or cattle fencing into their designs for aesthetic effect. Whatever your personal style is, there is surely a way to incorporate it. For ideas on how to build a trellis that will fit your space, check out this helpful video.

Remember Vegetables and Flowering Vines Will be Growing Vertically

The last point to remember when learning how to build a trellis is that the plants that will be on them will be growing vertically. This means you have to be extra careful when planting them and you must take steps to allow them to grow. Plants growing vertically require a more attentive eye, as you must make sure that they are climbing up your trellis properly.

At Perry Homes, we want to help you make your backyard beautiful. Check out our blog for more information and do not forget to take a look at our new homes for sale.