15 Easy DIY Trellis Ideas to Support Your Morning Glories

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

• 1-2″ diameter plastic, bamboo, or wood poles

• Galvanized wire

• Wire cutters and pliers

• 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:

• Wooden ladder

• Heavy-duty screws or bolts

• 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:

• 1/2″ PVC, copper, or galvanized pipes

• Pipe fittings (elbows, T’s, caps)

• 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:

• Twine, jute, sisal, or cotton rope

• Scissors and pruners

• 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:

• Wire storage/closet shelf unit

• Wire cutters

• 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:

• Several flexible bamboo canes or willow branches

• 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:

• Cattle panel

• T-posts

• 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:

• Wire garbage can frame

• Wire cutters

• 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:

• 3-5 straight branches

• 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:

• Large wire tomato cage

• 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:

• 1-2 bamboo poles or metal rods

• 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:

• 1/2″ copper pipes

• Fittings and pipe sealant

• 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:

• Stacked cinder blocks

• Rebar

• 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.