12 Great Ways to Use a Trellis in the Garden

By Erin Marissa Russell

Wondering how you can use trellis creativelyin the garden? One of the easiest ways to add vertical interest or a structuralelement to the garden is to add some trellis. Trellis is a cost-effective wayto maximize your growing space and change the look of your yard, while at thesame time giving plants a new surface to climb on. Check out these ideas forways to use trellis to see what you can do.

Build a Trellis Teepee for Beansor Cucumbers

All you need are some sticks or bamboobranches and some strong twine to build a netted trellis teepee that beans orcucumbers can climb on. Space out the branches or sticks vertically and leanthem all together into a teepee shape. Then tie the twine horizontally,securing it around each branch. Plant the beans or cucumbers at the bottom, andas you care for them, they’ll gradually spread higher up the trellis teepee.

Set Up an Arched Trellis Tunnel

An arched tunnel is a great way to add somewhimsy to your garden, and trellis is the perfect material to use when settingup your arch. Plant gourds, grapes, or beans next to the arched tunnel to watchthem climb over its surfaces, creating a living archway made of plants.

Rows of Bamboo Pole Trellis CanStake Delicate Plants

When you have whole rows of plants that need staking, you can depend on a bamboo pole trellis to give them the hand they need to grow strong. Simply drive the bamboo branches into the ground on opposite sides of the row that needs support, crossing them over each other at the top in an X formation. Add long, horizontal bamboo branches at the top of the X and along each side. Then use strong twine to create additional supports that run between the top and side horizontal branches. Bamboo is lightweight, easy to use, and as many gardeners know, if it’s growing in your yard, you’ll need to cut it back eventually no matter what since it spreads so prolifically. Why not put it to use elsewhere in the garden?

Use Trellis Behind Box Plantersfor Visual Interest

When you’re adding box planters, or simplybox-shaped garden plots, to your yard design, consider using trellis at theback of these areas. Set the trellis into the back of the box planter, orcreate a space for it behind your new garden bed, and your tall or climbingplants will have plenty of support. You’ll get way more growing space out ofthe new area with this simple addition.

Prop Trellis Into an A-FrameShape for Climbing Flowers or Veggies

With two pieces of trellis leaned together atthe top, you can create a triangular space where flowers or veggies that needto climb can explore. Better yet, it’s simple to set up. Just lean the twopieces of trellis together, tie them securely at the top, and drive the bottomends of the trellis into the ground where desired. This structure is perfectfor supporting flowering vines, beans or peas, cucumbers, gourds, and eventomatoes.

Go Primitive with BranchedTrellis for Containers

If you have a container plant that could usesome support, a branched trellis is easy to install, and it has a more naturallook than trellis you’d buy from the store. Start with the container full ofpotting soil, and gather several branches of about the same length. Insert thebranches into the container around its edges, then weave some smaller brancheshorizontally through these vertical slats. Your container plant will haveplenty of vertical room to climb and grow.

Use Panels of Trellis to Create aPrivacy Screen

Trellis isn’t just for staking plants thatneed support. With large panels of trellis strategically placed in your garden,you can create a privacy screen that may help you bypass HOA guidelines aboutthe types of fences you are allowed to use. Cedar wood is the best option tosupport these large trellis panels with in the garden. Plant some climbingflowers or vegetables next to your new privacy screens, and as they grow, yourgarden will feel less and less open to perusal from nosy neighbors. If you’remindful about where the privacy screens are placed, you can block anentertaining area from outside viewing or hide a part of the view from youryard that isn’t attractive, like a nearby street or parking lot.

Make Use of an Old Clothesline toBuild a Twine Trellis

Do you have an old clothesline in your yardthat’s sitting unused? Repurpose it to create a twine trellis that can prop uplots of plants. Simply run the twine from spots near the ground up around the clotheslineand back down to give your plants something to climb on.

Let Wire Mesh Stand in for Trellisto Create a Tunnel or Arch

It’s not the prettiest solution when it’s new,but a wire mesh trellis can be just as beautiful as other trellis options onceyour plants begin to grow along the surface. Wire mesh is an affordable way toget the look of some of the more involved trellis structures, such as tunnelsand arches. Plant dense creepers near your wire mesh trellis for maximumcoverage.

Make Trellis Do Double Duty as aFence

Building your fence out of trellis kills twobirds with one stone. Not only are you left with an attractive and functionalfence, you’ve also created a large area that can support lots of climbingplants. Just take care not to let the gate section of your fence becomeovergrown with vines from your plants, or you might have trouble opening andclosing it. A shorter trellis at the edges of the garden creates an attractiveborder fence for that area, too.

Don’t Let an Ugly Wall Be anEyesore—Hide It With Trellis

Place a freestanding trellis in front of thewall of a building or wall you’d like to hide. Once it’s planted with climbingflowers or vegetables, you’re well on your way to hiding the eyesore, whateverit may be. Better yet, trellis is a temporary solution, so you won’t be introuble with the landlord or infringe on a neighbor’s property (if it’s their wallyou’re looking to hide).

Frame Outbuildings With Trellisfor Country Chic

Speaking of eyesores, if you’re unhappy withthe look of your property’s sheds, storage buildings, or other structures—or ifyou’re just searching for a new look—trellis can come to the rescue. Simply setup the trellis along the walls or around the front of your outbuildings, beingcareful not to block their doors and windows from opening. Plant some climbersnext to the trellis, and your outbuildings will have a new look before you knowit.

Camouflage an AC Unit withTrellis Screens

Trellis is a great way to dress up more thanjust outbuildings on your property. If your AC unit sticks out when you gazeover your garden, some trellis is a great way to screen it off with a lush, naturalwall of climbing plants. Just set the trellis panels up to block the AC unitfrom view, then plant your favorite climber next to it, to set things inmotion.

There are so many ways to use trellis in the garden, we won’t tell if you decide to stock up before choosing exactly how you’ll use this structural marvel. Once you’ve set up your trellis, all you’ll have left to do is plant climbing flowers or vegetables near them to get started. Head this way for our gardening tips for plants that climb so you can make the most of your efforts.