Learning how to build a garden trellis may seem intimidating but it’s only as complicated as you make it. Using scrap lumber, wooden pallets or old lattice work is a great way to save money and give an old piece a fresh, new purpose. In this tutorial, learn how to make a DIY garden trellis using an old wooden ladder.
It’s time to think outside the pot …
How can one maximize their gardening space without tearing up the entire backyard? This has been a thought that has crossed my mind since moving into our small-town, 1930s home.
Each and every spring, my husband and I have expanded our garden. First we started with a small patch where we grew tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers. This year we wanted to grow more items but with only a quarter acre of land, where we would we find the room?
Revelation hit. Why not grow up instead of out? And thus the idea of a DIY garden trellis was born.
My husband Matt and I decided we wanted a garden trellis to grow some veggies vertically. But also something that would double as a beautiful entrance to our garden.
How to Repurpose Items for the Garden
After much searching online, I discovered that purchasing a prebuilt trellis or arbor was not going to be cheap. So my do-it-yourself heart turned to the quest of building our own trellis with repurposed materials.
We decided to build the frame of the trellis using wooden ladders from our friends old barn. Their barn is full of of tons of history and a variety of treasures from decades gone by.
Repurposing the antique ladders into a garden trellis was simple and only took an afternoon to complete.
Types of Trellises
There are many different kinds of trellises for the garden. Some are considered a DIY garden trellis while others are purchased from gardening or hardware shops. Here are just a few to consider when planting climbing flowers or vining veggies.
Arch Trellis – This type of trellis arches from one position in the garden to another position. An arch trellis can be used to bridge the space between two raised beds or even from garden pot to garden pot. For instance, some people like to use a sturdy piece of fence to grow luffa plants. As the gourd grows across the archway, it creates a beautiful canopy that you can walk under.
Cattle Trellis – Using a cattle panel, either set up horizontally with a couple of T posts or bent into an arch shape, this type of trellis is sturdy and strong. It is perfect for growing everything from cucumbers and butternut squash to pole beans and snap peas.
Wall Trellis – This kind of trellis can come in many different shapes and sizes. You will find a wall trellis inserted into a raised garden bed or leaned against a wall. The materials used to make a wall trellis can be lightweight or heavy duty. From our experience, I have grown snap peas using a wall trellis inserted into our cinder blocked raised garden bed and I’ve also used a sturdy material, such as cattle panel fencing to grow hops up the side of a shed.
A-Frame – An a-frame trellis is great for a small garden, where you can grow up both sides of the trellis. We used a couple wooden boards and some twine to create an a-frame trellis for our cucumbers to vine up.
Obelisk Trellises – These are a type of trellis system that is shaped like a tower. Generally I see these used in containers to grow vining flowers. But on our property, we created something similar, called a tee-pee trellis to grow our green beans.
Check out the article 6 vertical gardening ideas for small gardens for more trellis ideas.
What Materials Do You Need to Make a Trellis?
While I am a big believer in repurposing materials to build things for the garden, such as a DIY garden trellis, you may need to purchase some new items to complete your project. Here are a few common trellis materials:
- Cattle panels
- Fencing
- Twine, string or nylon netting
- T post or rebar
- Nails, staples and/or zip ties
- Sticks or branches
- Wire
- Metal hinges and brackets
What is the Best Plant to Grow up a Trellis?
In my experience, these are some of the best fruit and vegetables to grow vertically:
- Butternut squash
- Pole beans – green beans or dried beans
- Hops
- Luffa
- Peas – a variety of types work well
- Cucumbers
There are also many climbing flowers that need a trellis, including some types of roses, honeysuckle, jasmine and morning glory.
Tools You May Need
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Zip ties
Staple gun and/or nail gun
L brackets
Angle braces
How to Build a Trellis
Do you want to increase your gardening space? Follow the step by step instructions below to learn how to build a DIY trellis using an old ladder.
Step 1
Cut the two barn ladders into 3 pieces. In our case we cut two 78” pieces for the sides and one 36” for the top.
Step 2
Use 4 L brackets to attach the top piece to the sides. For extra support add two angled braces (4 total) at the top of both the front and back of the trellis.
Step 3
Once the frame is built, staple metal wire to the ladder. The size of fencing will depend on what you plan to grow on the trellis. In our case we planned to grow pole beans so we wanted a sturdy fence panel with medium size spacing to allow the vines to grow and our hands to easily get into the trellis and harvest the produce.
Step 4
To insert the DIY trellis into the garden pound 4 metal stakes into the ground beside the ladder trellis. Strap the rungs of the ladder trellis to the metal stake with several zip ties.
We are thrilled with the way it turned out. The rustic trellis is a perfect addition to our favorite spot in our backyard. The project was fairly inexpensive due to repurposing materials.
FAQ
Is it Cheaper to Build Your Own Trellis?
Yes, if you plan to grow a substantial amount of fruits or veggies on your property, a DIY garden trellis is much cheaper to build than purchasing a pre-built trellis. Jump below for some ideas on cheap trellises and how to use recycled items.
Where is the Best Place to Put a Trellis?
Before setting up your trellis, consider a few things.
Do your plants need full sun or partial shade? Each plant type is different and requires a certain amount of daylight to grow and produce effectively.
Will the trellis shade other nearby plants? Sometimes you may want a trellis to create shade for other plants, such as leafy greens that tend to bolt when it gets hot and sunny. Other times, you may not want your trellis to cast a shadow over other plans, possibly preventing them from receiving the proper amount of light.
How large will this plant be at full capacity? This will determine the space you will need for your trellis.
Can you easily access the trellis for watering, weeding and harvesting? Nothing is worse than sticking your trellis in an overcrowded area where you cannot access the plant for general maintenance.
Which Direction Should a Trellis Face?
Generally, gardening professionals recommend placing a trellis north-to-south for the optimal amount of sunlight. However, sometimes in a small garden that doesn’t always accommodate the orientation of your garden or the amount of space you have. I have had trellises face north and south as well as east and west, with both directions producing a great harvest.
Repurposed Garden Ideas
Repurposing an item around your property or picked up from a garage sale or auction is usually a cheaper way to go than buying something new. I am always pro turning trash into treasure and giving it new life again. Try out these upcycled garden ideas for your planting projects.
- Transform an old wheelbarrow into a garden bed.
- Use old wooden crates for growing lettuce, strawberries, carrots and flowers.
- Turn a ladder and a few wooden boards into a plant display. This is fantastic for flowers and small herbs.
- Remove the glass and backing of a large picture frame. Add some wire to the center and you have yourself a DIY garden trellis that is great for growing vining plants. You can lean it against a wall or use some stakes to place it in the ground.
- Use an old colander and some twine as a hanging basket.
If you aren’t already on Pinterest, check out their site. There are hundreds of recycled garden projects on there!
More DIY Gardening Ideas
Repurpose a Chicken Feeder into a Garden Planter
How to Build a Raised Herb Garden
Simple Shade Cover for Your Garden
DIY Garden Trellis Tutorial
In this tutorial, learn how to make a DIY garden trellis using an old wooden ladder.
Materials
- Wooden ladder
- Zip ties
- L brackets
- Angle braces
Tools
- Drill
- Staple gun and/or nail gun
- Miter saw
Instructions
- Cut the two barn ladders into 3 pieces. In our case we cut two 78” pieces for the sides and one 36” for the top.
- Use 4 L brackets to attach the top piece to the sides. For extra support add two angled braces (4 total) at the top of both the front and back of the trellis.
- Once the frame is built, staple metal wire to the ladder. The size of fencing will depend on what you plan to grow on the trellis. In our case we planned to grow pole beans so we wanted a sturdy fence panel with medium size spacing to allow the vines to grow and our hands to easily get into the trellis and harvest the produce.
- To insert the DIY trellis into the garden pound 4 metal stakes into the ground beside the ladder trellis. Strap the rungs of the ladder trellis to the metal stake with several zip ties.
