What Is A Trellis?

A trellis is a commonly used garden structure designed to help your plants grow vertically. While a trellis can be made of many different materials, all versions come with an open framework. This allows plants to grow upward with ease. A trellis can be designed for planting purposes or simply to add more shade to your property.

Trellis Considerations

Before a specific trellis is chosen, you must consider a few important factors. Location is key since you do not want to place your trellis in a spot that receives a lot of wind. It is possible to anchor the trellis posts to the ground, which improves stability against strong winds. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper anchoring instructions. Make sure your hose can reach the area the trellis is in, as well. Be mindful of too much shade hitting the area, as you’ll want your new plants to receive as much sunlight as possible.

Another consideration to make is the type of plant you want to grow in the trellis. The trellis you choose needs to be large enough for your desired plants. A stronger trellis is necessary when attempting to grow cucumbers that can result in heavy vines. Melons will grow best on a wider trellis, which allows an increased airflow. Always check your plants regularly to monitor growing patterns.

Trellis Benefits

Here are a few of the many benefits associated with a trellis:

• Allows maximum sunlight exposure
• Reduces any exposure to fungal diseases
• Creates more garden space
• Can detect pests and insects
• Increases the circulation of air
• Allows for easy pollination

Types Of Trellis Designs

Here are the 8 most popular garden trellis designs:

• Lattice
• Arched
• Wall Mounted
• Expanding
• Gothic
• Obelisk
• Folding
• Fan

Types Of Trellis Materials

A garden trellis is typically constructed of the following materials:

• Wood
• Iron
• Steel
• Vinyl
• Metal

Trellis Ideas

These are a couple of great ideas for your future garden trellis:

Enchanting Arches – It’s no secret that a tunnel can add charm to your garden area. This structure will invite friends and family to walk to and explore the home garden. Typically, these arches will be constructed of garden wires and/or branches. Choose softer branches if you are choosing to build arches as your next DIY project.

DIY Pergola – Pergolas are also known as trellises and/or arbors. These pergolas can be used in multiple ways, each as aesthetically-pleasing as the next. The structures can be used to support crawling vines or even just to add shade to your yard. Don’t underestimate how important cooling shade can be for your garden’s health. You will have to sink the structure into the ground about one quarter of the total height of the post.