Adding a trellis to your garden can add visual interest, provide support for climbing plants, and help utilize vertical space. With just some basic materials and tools, it’s easy to make a customized trellis that enhances your garden’s design. Here are 24 creative DIY trellis project ideas to inspire your green thumb.
Simple Wooden Lattice Trellis
One of the easiest DIY trellis projects is a basic wooden lattice. All it requires are some slats of wood, screws or nails, and sandpaper. You can make a leaning trellis by securing two boards together in an A-frame shape and filling in the middle section with vertical slats spaced a few inches apart. For a freestanding trellis, make a rectangle or square shape with slats crisscrossing inside the frame. Sand and seal the wood to protect it from the elements. This simple and affordable lattice design works well for climbing vines or peas.
Rustic Twig Trellis
For an organic look, a rustic twig trellis made from thin branches and sticks found in nature creates a charming feature. Cut branches to the desired lengths and tie them together at the joints using twine or wire. You can make all sorts of whimsical shapes like arches, spirals, and zigzags. Position twig trellises along a path or use them to provide structure for rambling plants like clematis and morning glories.
Repurposed Ladder Trellis
Give a rustic wooden ladder new life in the garden by turning it into an obelisk-style trellis. Simply secure the legs into the ground in a cone shape using stakes. You can either leave the ladder intact or remove some of the rungs to create more space. Vining crops like beans, cucumbers, and squash can grow up the sides while you also utilize the remaining rungs as planting shelves.
Woven Willow Trellis
For an organic living trellis, plant willow shoots close together in a row. As they grow, weave and train the flexible branches into diamond or square-shaped patterns. The willow will continue growing together to make a sturdy woven trellis. You can also purchase willow rods to make a freestanding woven trellis. Use grape vines, clematis, or climbing roses to adorn the willow.
Wire Cattle Panel Trellis
Cattle panels made from welded wire are readily available at farm supply stores for inexpensive trellising. Cut the mesh fencing into shapes using bolt cutters. Bend into arches or cylinders and secure the ends with stakes, zip ties, or wire. You can also stand panels upright and attach them to posts. This durable and versatile agricultural trellis is ideal for training heavy squash and melons as well as climbing vines and roses.
DIY Copper Pipe Trellis
For an elegant yet contemporary trellis, use copper pipes secured with fittings at the joints. Cut the pipes to your desired dimensions then assemble into shapes like diamonds, hearts, or geometric patterns. The soft copper color will develop a verdigris patina over time, adding vintage character to the garden. Support vining edibles like beans, cucumbers, and peas or let climbing roses display their flowers on this artistic trellis style.
Whimsical Grapevine Trellis
Grapevines have long, flexible branches perfect for bending and shaping into a trellis. Collect pruned grapevine branches or remove them from an existing vine. Cut the vines to length then use garden wire or zip ties to connect them into the desired shapes. Make curving arches over pathways and seating areas or spiral vines around poles. Let this organic trellis add a whimsical feel to your garden beds and borders.
Teepee Trellis for Climbing Vegetables
A teepee trellis makes an excellent support for climbing vegetable crops. Cut four or five bamboo poles and lashed them together at the top using twine or wire. Spread the ends out and push into the ground to make a tall cone shape. Plant pole beans, cucumbers, peas, and squash at the base and train the vines up the poles. You can also add string or jute between the poles for extra support if needed. Kids will love playing in the shady teepee.
Brick Trellis Against a Wall
For a simple leaning trellis, stack bricks in a stairstep pattern against a wall or fence. Place bricks on their sides and overlap each row by half a brick, alternating the brick orientation to create a zigzag pattern. This trellis is perfect to train climbing plants on brick houses and walls. Install eye screws along the top of the wall and string garden twine horizontally for tendril plants to climb.
DIY Pallet Trellis
Pallets are a fabulous material for all kinds of DIY garden projects, including trellises. You can make a basic A-frame leaning trellis by securing two pallets together with hinges, brackets, or rope. For a larger upright trellis, attach several pallets side-by-side using wood slats along the backs. Paint or stain the wood for added weather protection and visual appeal. Accent with fun decor like plates, shutters, or signs.
Decorative Metal Trellis Panels
Pre-made metal trellis panels are readily available at garden centers and hardware stores. Look for panels made of powder-coated steel or aluminum shapes like diamonds, curves, and scrollwork. Mount a single decorative panel to a wall or fence for easy vertical gardening. You can also connect multiple trellis panels together to make a room divider or freestanding trellis that adds elegant architecture to garden beds.
DIY Concrete Craft Trellis
For an easy DIY trellis, press found objects like doilies, stencils, burlap, leaves, and lace into wet concrete. Pour the concrete into mold frames or cardboard forms to make flat panels. Once dry, remove the concrete slabs and lean against walls or fences. You can also stack multiple concrete slabs upright with wood posts between them to make a freestanding trellis. The pretty patterns add vintage craft charm to climbing plants.
Upcycled Bicycle Wheel Trellis
Put old bicycle wheels to clever use as a freestanding wheel trellis. Stack wheels of varying sizes onto a metal pole secured in the ground. Space the wheels out along the pole and attach with bolts or zip ties through the wheel holes and axles. For stability, attach guy wires from the top and bottom wheels to ground anchors. The wheel trellis adds fun whimsy to the garden while supporting climbing vines.
Bamboo Obelisk Trellis
Bamboo is a sustainable trellising material that provides tall, sturdy support in the garden. Cut four bamboo canes the same length. Tie the tops together with twine then spread out the bottoms and stick into the ground in a square shape. For extra stability, attach the bamboo poles near the base with wire or bolts through small drilled holes. Use the bamboo obelisk to grow vertically with vines and pole beans.
Log Trellis Against a Fence
Got spare logs or cut firewood? Put them to use as a rustic fence trellis. Stack the logs in pyramid shapes against the fence to create shelving nooks for potted plants. You can secure the logs to the fence with brackets if needed. Twine garden string back and forth across the logs so climbing plants can weave through the wood tiers. This simple plantable trellis is perfect for cottage garden style.
DIY Window Frame Trellis
Turn salvaged window frames and shutters into charming lean-to trellises. Attach the repurposed wood pieces against walls, fences or posts using brackets or screws. A rectangular window frame makes an instant climber trellis. For more height, stack shutters on top of each other to form tall, narrow towers. Let vines like morning glories and sweet peas wind through the built-in slats and squares.
Hula Hoop Trellis
Who says hula hoops are just for kids? Use them as plant supports by transforming the hoops into hanging orb trellises. Cut the hoop apart then reattach the ends using wire, rope, or tape to form a ball-shaped trellis. Hang the sphere from tree branches, beams, or hooks. Vining annuals like nasturtiums, vining petunias, and even mini pumpkins can be trained up and around the hoops.
Obelisk Trellis Made from Tree Branches
Use pruned branches and sticks to construct a sculptural branched obelisk trellis. Start by tying four sturdy upright sticks together at the top. Then attach horizontal branches in a criss-cross pattern down the structure for climbing plants to weave through. Place the obelisk in beds and borders to support vines and add height for visual interest. Over time, plants will cover the branches for an entwined living trellis.
Pot Trellis Tower
Stack a tower of pots in varying sizes to make a fun trellis feature. Use sturdy ceramic, concrete or metal planters that won’t blow over when planted. Set the largest pots on the ground, then stack progressively smaller pots on top, offsetting them diagonally. As vines grow up through the pots, they’ll trail over the sides, softening the hard edges. Try combining pots of different colors and materials for a mosaic garden accent.
Wire Sphere Trellis
Add a modern geometric element to the garden with an orb-shaped wire trellis. Bend wire fencing into a large sphere then secure in place with cable ties or wire. Stand the spherical trellis on short metal legs, anchoring it into the ground, or hang it from a beam or tree branch using wires. Let vines climb all over the sphere to create a lush green ball. Use LED string lights to illuminate the orb at night.
DIY Rebar Trellis Arch
For a strong support, use steel rebar to construct garden trellis arches. Measure and bend the rebar into semicircle shapes. Position two arches facing each other and attach at the top using rebar caps or wire. Secure the ends in the ground with concrete or stakes. You can also connect multiple arches together into tunnels. Paint the rebar for extra weather resistance and to blend with garden colors.
Trellis Mural with Living Plants
Create a living garden mural by attaching small trellis panels to a wall in fun shapes and patterns. Use materials like wood lattices, wire squares, metal grids, bricks, and concrete panels. Arrange and secure the trellises to form landscapes, geometric shapes, words, animals, or abstract art designs. Plant trailing vines and flowering climbers in the structures, training them to cover the trellis murals.
Upcycled Wood Picket Fence Trellis
Wood picket fences often have planks missing or damaged. Salvage the old wood to make a new trellis backdrop in garden beds. Paint or stain the reclaimed boards for visual interest. Arrange the horizontal planks in attractive designs, interlocking them and securing wood pieces to make patterns. The varied heights and shapes create perfect nooks for container plants to climb and spread.
DIY Tomato Cage Trellis
Get tall tomato cages for cheap by making your own with concrete reinforcing wire. Cut the mesh fencing into circles using bolt cutters. Then overlap the ends and secure with zip ties or wire to form cylinders. Use sturdy stakes to stabilize the tall tomato trellis cages. You can also connect cages together as one long trellis row. Grow cucumbers, beans, peas, squash, and other vining veggies on your DIY tomato cages.
PVC Pipe Trellis Arch
Make a PVC trellis by connecting white plastic plumbing pipes into a half-circle dome shape. Use corner elbow joints to attach upright pipes to a base pipe curving across the ground. Then add crossbars for plant support and decor. Paint the PVC pipes in cheerful colors to brighten your garden. The lightweight plastic trellis can also be taken apart for easy seasonal storage. Grow vining plants up and over the arch.
Tree Branch Teepee Trellis
Teepee trellises are so useful in the garden, get creative by using tree branches for an eco-friendly version. Cut and gather long, straight branches to form a tall teepee shape. Lash the tops together then spread out the bottoms and push into the ground. Add shorter cross sticks around the base for extra support if needed. Let climbing plants like beans and cucumbers grow up the organic branching trellis. Kids will have fun playing inside.
Freestanding Ladder Trellis
For a taller trellis, secure two wooden ladders together at an angle using rope, wire, or metal brackets. Lean the joined ladders against a wall or prop upright on their own. You can leave the ladder rungs intact or remove some for more plant space. Paint the ladder vibrant colors before letting vines wind their way up and over the rungs. This easy trellis works well in narrow garden spaces.
Garden Obelisk Trellis
These classic garden obelisks provide strong vertical support for climbing vines and flowers. Make a tall obelisk by connecting four wood or metal poles at the top and spreading out the bottom legs to form a square or pyramid shape. Fit crossbars across the corners for extra stability. Top the trellis with a decorative finial for accent. Position obelisk trellises in beds and borders as focal points for growing vines or clematis.
Corrugated Metal Trellis Fence
For an industrial trellis, use corrugated metal roofing cut into tall panels. Set the tin sheets upright and secure the bottoms with metal stakes. Space the corrugated panels out in a line and connect using wood strips behind them. The wavy galvanized metal makes an interesting backdrop for flowering vines and provides sturdy support as they climb skyward.
Two-Sided Espalier Trellis
Espalier fruit trees and vines against a two-sided freestanding trellis to maximize vertical space. Set sturdy posts into the ground spaced several feet apart. Stretch wire fencing between the insides of the posts to make two facing trellis panels. As the espalier plants grow, train the branches horizontally along the wires in geometric patterns. The plants will cover the trellis, creating a beautiful living garden partition.
Arched Top Pergola Trellis
Provide overhead shelter and a vertical plant space using a pergola covered in vines. Set posts into the ground in a square pattern. Span the top posts with wood beams to form an open grid shaded roof. Add arched beams across the top for accent. The pergola allows filtered light beneath for seating while dense vines above provide lush greenery and a canopy of flowers.
DIY Garden Tunnel Trellis
Build a garden tunnel to transform a path into a magical leafy passageway. Bend and attach tall metal hoops or PVC pipes over a path, securing the ends into the ground. Weave weather-resistant string back and forth across the curved framework from top to bottom. As climbing vines grow over the tunnel frame, it will create a living tunnel wall of flowers and greenery.
Conclusion
With a bit of creativity and simple materials from around the home and garden, it’s easy to construct durable and stylish DIY trellises. Supporting climbing plants on trellises helps utilize vertical garden space, improves plant health, and adds beautiful design accents. Try using different shapes, materials, and styles of trellising to enhance the architecture and functionality of your garden beds, borders, and pathways. Train flowering vines, peas, beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers up these handcrafted trellises to give them space to thrive. Which of these 24 easy DIY trellis ideas are you excited to build in your garden? Get creative and have fun designing unique trellises that match your landscape’s personality and needs.