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28 Easy Garden Trellis Ideas for Climbing Plants and Vines

Let's get vertical!

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trellis idea featuring a tall narrow white trellis propped against a light gray shingled housepinterest
Melissa Ross//Getty Images

Whether you're growing flowering vines along a garage wall, roses along a walkway, or cucumbers and beans in a raised bed, you'll need something for those climbing plants and vines to grow on.

That's when a trellis comes in handy. Luckily it doesn't have to be super expensive or a complicated construction project to be attractive. You can get creative with purchased garden ornaments such as an obelisk, arch or ladder, or you can make one yourself one with a few basic household items.

Of course, a trellis is practical for supporting plants, but it also can be beautiful and add an interesting accent to your garden's design all on its own.

Like fast-growing shrubs, trellises can provide privacy from the neighbors or hide an unsightly view, such as your compost bin or trash cans. A trellis also can divide an outdoor "room" to make it more functional, separating spaces for eating, grilling, or lounging.

A trellis can be made from many different materials, including wood, twigs, metal or plastic, and it may be permanent or removable. Probably the most important thing to remember is that for plants that get very heavy as they mature, such as a climbing hydrangea, make sure you anchor the trellis to something to keep it upright, such as the wall (though you should offset it with blocks from the building to allow air flow behind the plant, which cuts down on the occurrence of some fungal diseases).

Ahead, our favorite trellis ideas for every style of garden:

1

Salvaged Window Trellis

flowering potted jasmine growing up a salvaged window trellis, displayed on rustic table with pots, watering can, garden tools
Becky Stayner

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.

SHOP STAR JASMINE VINES

2

Branches and Twine Trellis

purple sweetpea flowers growing up a rustic teepee trellis of foraged branches and twine
TorriPhoto//Getty Images

We love the rustic look of sweet peas scrambling up cut saplings, such as poplar or birch, tied with twine. Forage large sticks from your garden, then lash together in casual fashion at the top.

This won't hold heavy plants, but it's fine for annuals such as sweet peas or morning glories.

SHOP GARDEN TWINE

3

Vintage Fence Trellis

white roses growing on a trellis
Helen Norman//Getty Images

Lean a vintage fence piece against your house for a quick, easy solution for climbing plants. Shop flea markets for the best finds.

SHOP CLIMBING ROSES

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4

DIY Pergola

diy trellis ideas
A Piece of Rainbow

Pergolas can be used not only as a support structure for vines such as clematis, but they also provide shade.

Before building, call your local utilities to mark the location of underground lines because you'll need to sink the posts at least one-quarter their heights.

Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.

SHOP CLEMATIS VINES

5

T-Post Trellis

diy trellis ideas
Chicken Scratch NY

This sweet, rustic little trellis can be made from posts, poplar twigs, and twine, though you can use zip ties, too. Use bigger branches on the bottom and smaller ones up top, alternating the thick ends on each row.

Get the tutorial at Chicken Scratch NY.

SHOP ZIP TIES

6

Honeycomb Trellis

diy trellis ideas
Mama Needs a Project

Lovely in itself, this hexagon-shaped honeycomb trellis will add serious zing to your property.

Use a miter saw to make the hexagonal cuts, then mount the trellis onto a fence, making sure it screws into all the horizontal supports.

Get the tutorial at Mama Needs a Project.

SHOP MITER SAW AND BOX SETS

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7

Plastic Netting Trellis

garden trellis ideas plastic net
tanyss//Getty Images

For a simple vegetable trellis that will last for a few seasons, attach plastic netting, also known as poultry netting to two pound-in metal garden stakes. You're done in a few minutes!

SHOP PLASTIC NETTING

8

Espaliered Trees

privacy fence trellis idea featuring a long row of espaliered apple trees
Getty Images

Espalier is a form of pruning that allows trees to grow flat against a wall or in a line.

Though it's not strictly a "trellis," espalier does provide a fence-like appearance for privacy--though this technique does take time and effort to achieve.

Get espalier tips from Oregon State University.

SHOP PRUNING SHEARS

9

Fancy Trellis

diy trellis ideas
HandyDadTV

This beautifully made trellis is suitable for showing off at the entrance to your home, especially draped with a flowering vine like clematis. Be sure to use pressure-treated lumber and a stain/sealer so it stands the test of time.

Get the tutorial at HandyDadTV.

SHOP STAIN AND SEALER

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10

Bamboo Trellis

garden trellis ideas bamboo
kievith//Getty Images

Bamboo lasts forever! Buy a package of tall bamboo pieces, lean them towards each other, and lash the tops together. You've got a bean tunnel that can be disassembled and stored easily come winter.

SHOP BAMBOO POLES

11

Cedar Board Clematis Trellis

diy trellis ideas
The Handyman's Daughter

Jazz up your boring backyard fence with a trellis that will give flowering vines, such as jessamine, the support they need to climb high. For this project, cedar boards cut into short strips make a simple trellis.

Get the tutorial at The Handyman’s Daughter.

SHOP JESSAMINE PLANTS

12

Wire Wall Trellis

diy trellis ideas
Salvaged Living

Get greenery going on your brick with this wire trellis, which uses masonry anchors, eye hooks and cable wire to create a foundation for your plants to cover.

Get the tutorial at Salvaged Living.

SHOP EYE HOOKS

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13

Fir Board Trellis with Planter Box

diy trellis ideas
Deuce Cities Henhouse

Two projects in one, this trellis is mounted inside a handy planter. The box has casters mounted on the bottom, making it easy to move when necessary.

Get the tutorial at Deuce Cities Henhouse.

SHOP DRILLS

14

No-Weld Copper Trellis

diy copper trellis
33 Shades of Green

You don’t need to be able to weld to assemble this beautiful copper pipe trellis—it's done with super-strong glue! The copper will age to a beautiful patina in time.

Get the tutorial at 33 Shades of Green.

SHOP GLUE

15

Rustic Birch Trellis Ladder

diy trellis ladder
Ashbee Design

Whether you’d like to use this homey ladder as a trellis or as seasonal decor, it's a lovely addition to your porch or patio. Craft it from small limbs foraged from your yard.

Get the tutorial at Ashbee Design.

SHOP PRUNING SHEARS

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16

Crisscross Wall Trellis

wall trellis
Centsational Style

This elegant crisscross trellis can be used in the most formal of outdoor spaces. If you have a fountain or artwork you’d like to highlight, think about leaving out the center “X” and placing the piece within the space.

Get the tutorial at Centsational Style.

SHOP WHITE EXTERIOR PAINT

17

Rustic Sapling Trellis

rustic trellis ideas created from branches bent into an arch shape, pictured with flowering vines and dog underneath
Ellen Ecker Ogden

Whimsical and charming, this trellis is made with green saplings, which are bent into a hoop shape and wedged between large rocks until they’re dry.

Get the tutorial at Ellen Ecker Ogden.

SHOP JUTE TWINE

18

Garden Obelisk

garden trellis
Flower Patch Farmhouse

You can use this simple-to-make obelisk for everything from a tomato cage to a rose trellis for roses. It's easily assembled out of pine pieces, then painted or stained to protect it from the elements.

Get the tutorial at Flower Patch Farmhouse.

SHOP MEASURING TAPE

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19

Cattle Panel Trellis

cattle panel trellis
Frugal Family Home

This clever trellis made from metal cattle panels enables you to grow cucumbers, peas, and beans up instead of out. After trimming and halving the panel, use hog rings or cable ties to join them. This trellis folds flat for storage.

Get the tutorial at Frugal Family Home.

SHOP HOG RINGS AND PLIERS

20

Twine Pea Trellis

pea trellis
Garden Therapy

Built from bamboo and garden twine, this is super-easy and inexpensive to make. It works well for flowers such as sweet peas or morning glories or edible snow peas.

Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.

SHOP GARDEN TWINE

Headshot of Arricca Elin SanSone
Arricca Elin SanSone

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

Lettermark

Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques. 

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