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Gardeners dont usually get too far into their hobby before deciding they want to grow some vining plants.
Maybe your vegetable garden is ready for some cucumbers. Or youve been eyeing the neighbors clematis. Or perhaps youre going all in on cottagecore and want climbing roses everywhere.
Either way, you’ll need a trellis, or more than one, to keep those plants off the ground. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be very expensive or hard to make one that looks good. You can get creative with garden decorations like an obelisk, arch, or ladder that you buy, or you can use common household items to make your own.
A trellis is useful for holding up plants, but it can also be pretty and add something interesting to your garden design on its own. Ahead, our favorite trellis ideas for every style of garden.
This classic garden arch makes a nice entrance to your yard or home, and climbing roses over it will look even better.
Because it has big holes, a lattice fence doesn’t usually give you much privacy, unless you grow morning glory or clematis over it. Then youve got a beautiful looking screen that can offer semi-privacy while also helping to grow something!.
Morning glories are fast-growing annual vines that can easily take over fences, arbors, and trellises with their heart-shaped foliage and cheery trumpet flowers. To prevent them from smothering your structures, providing proper support with a dedicated trellis is ideal. With some simple materials and a bit of creativity, you can easily make a customized DIY trellis for your morning glories this season
Make a Basic Pole Trellis
Two tall, sturdy poles inserted into the ground make a simple vertical trellis Use
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1-2″ diameter plastic, bamboo, or wood poles
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Galvanized wire
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Wire cutters and pliers
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Ruler
Space poles 1-3 feet apart based on desired trellis width. Hammer poles 1-2 feet into soil. Wrap wire around poles every 6-12 inches to create a ladder-like grid.
Upcycle a Wooden Ladder
Give new life to an old wooden ladder as a leaning trellis. Use:
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Wooden ladder
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Heavy-duty screws or bolts
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Drill
Secure ladder to fence post or wall at top and bottom. Allow morning glories to climb up the rungs.
Make a Pipe Frame Trellis
Plumber’s pipes or conduits create instant grid trellises. Use:
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1/2″ PVC, copper, or galvanized pipes
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Pipe fittings (elbows, T’s, caps)
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PVC cement or pipe sealant
Assemble into a stand-alone frame or lean against a wall. Secure fittings and let vines climb the grid.
Craft a Twine String Trellis
Crisscrossing twine makes a living trellis that moves with the vines. Use:
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Twine, jute, sisal, or cotton rope
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Scissors and pruners
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Wall hooks, screws, staples
Create a web by anchoring strands vertically and weaving horizontal pieces through.
Upcycle a Wire Closet Shelving Unit
Wire storage shelves become perfect cylindrical trellises for pots. Use:
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Wire storage/closet shelf unit
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Wire cutters
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Florist wire or zip ties
Cut shelves to fit planter height. Secure into pot and watch vines cover it.
Make a Bamboo or Willow Tipi
Flexible bamboo or willow stems create conical trellises. Use:
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Several flexible bamboo canes or willow branches
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Twine or wire
Tie stems together at top to form teepee shape. Spread base in circle and push into soil or pot.
Build a Cattle Panel Archway
Steel mesh cattle panels make arched trellises. Use:
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Cattle panel
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T-posts
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Heavy zip ties
Bend into arch shape. Anchor ends into ground with posts. Secure with ties.
Upcycle a Wire Garbage Can Frame
The domed wire frame from a garbage can easily transforms into a round trellis. Use:
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Wire garbage can frame
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Wire cutters
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Florist wire or zip ties
Remove can portion. Bend frame into round shape. Attach to wall or posts.
Create a Garden Obelisk
Turn pruned branches into a tall obelisk trellis. Use:
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3-5 straight branches
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Twine
Tie thinner ends together at top. Spread base into triangle/square shape. Push ends into soil.
Use a Tomato Cage
Ornamental grasses or vines grow beautifully supported by a tomato cage. Use:
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Large wire tomato cage
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Stakes
Surround with plants. Push stakes through base ring into ground to anchor.
Make a Window Box Trellis
Maximize vertical space with a narrow trellis in window boxes. Use:
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1-2 bamboo poles or metal rods
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Florist wire
Insert poles/rods into window boxes. Crisscross wire between them for vines to climb.
Craft a Copper Pipe Trellis
Shiny copper pipes give an elegant, artistic look. Use:
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1/2″ copper pipes
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Fittings and pipe sealant
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Wire
Assemble pipes into shapes. Secure uprights to wall or posts. Allow vines to grow over framework.
Use a Garden Arbor or Pergola
Grow morning glory vines to cover large structures like garden arbors and pergolas. Use:
- Large wooden garden arbor or pergola
Train vines up posts and along top supports. They’ll quickly cover the structure.
Make a Cinder Block Trellis
Who knew cinder blocks could make pretty trellises? Use:
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Stacked cinder blocks
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Rebar
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Landscape staples
Stack blocks in pyramid shapes. Run rebar through openings to stabilize. Staple twine to blocks in grid pattern.
With a simple DIY trellis made from materials around your home and garden, you can give your morning glory vines the ideal vertical support to grow their best all season long.
Cedar Board Clematis Trellis
Add a trellis to your boring backyard fence to make it more interesting. It will also give flowering vines like jessamine the support they need to grow tall. For this project, cedar boards cut into short strips make a simple trellis.
Get the tutorial at The Handyman’s Daughter.
This wire trellis uses masonry anchors, eye hooks, and cable wire to make a base for your plants to grow on. It will help you grow plants on your brick.
Get the tutorial at Salvaged Living.
Old Grapevine Branches Trellis
Making a trellis out of things you already have is one of the easiest things you can do. Here, some old, thicker vining branches have been woven together using some thinner vines, then allowed to dry.
This makes a great light trellis for small vines like sweet pea.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Ivy, Virginia creeper, and other vining plants dont need much encouragement, especially during the growing season.
You can lean and attach the top of an old ladder to an outdoor wall or shed, or you can securely attach the top and bottom of the ladder as well. Then, tell some of the tendrils to start growing up the ladder.
A salvaged window proves the perfect support for a climbing vine, such as star jasmine.
Remove the glass panes and hang on a wall or rest on your potting shed worktable.
This idea for a container garden trellis is great for growing cucumbers and other vegetables that grow on vines. You can also grow beans, tomatoes, and other “tall” vegetables without putting them in the ground.
You can also bring the plant inside or into a greenhouse during cold spells or to keep hungry animals away at night. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below.
8 Easy DIY Trellis Ideas From Other Gardeners
FAQ
What kind of trellis is best for morning glories?
What will morning glories climb on?
Can you grow morning glories without a trellis?
How to get morning glories to climb a pole?