Rustic Trellis Ideas: How to Add Whimsy to Your Garden
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you have always dreamed of having a fairytale garden, try building your own rustic garden trellises! These easy and affordable structures are perfect for adding whimsy to your vegetable garden. In this guide, discover ideas for building your own homemade garden trellises from foraged materials.
When I first began gardening, I had several ideal images in my head of what the perfect vegetable garden could look like. This was often rather manicured and perfect. Never did I imagine that I would enjoying crafting rustic looking structures and trellises from fallen branches on my property! I was inspired years ago during a trip to Colonial Williamsburg to reimagine what a beautiful garden could look like.
gathering inspiration:
Since then, I have loved using the natural elements around my own farm to use for trellises that my climbing plants can use for support, and it adds so much whimsy to the garden. Because what is better than working with the materials readily available to you?
At Colonial Williamsburg which is an 18th century historical village, historical gardeners use gardening practices from the mid to lates 1700s. Then, gardeners would simply use the materials they had available to them to add support and height to their garden.
Trellises are incredibly beneficial for various types of plants to grow onto, which in turns provides you more space to grow more vegetables.
If you begin to research historical gardening structures, you will often find that they were made from cut or fallen branches, lengths of bamboo, and willow. This gives the structure a rustic look and homegrown pioneer-esque quality, which is perfect as I absolutely love a beautiful 19th century aesthetic.
what grows on a trellis?
Why do you need a trellis and what grows on it? There are various different garden plants, even vegetables, that can benefit from having a trellis or cage for growing on or into. This helps them grow vertically and keep from falling over. Trellises are also great for adding more ground space for growing things near and around your climbing plants.
Cucumbers. I used to grow cucumbers on the ground, and I quickly learned that it is much nicer to grow them vertically! You can plant cucumbers 6-inches apart if you grow them on a trellis, providing you with more plants vs growing them on the ground.
Squash. Winter squash and pumpkins can be grown on a trellis! As they are vining plants, they will wrap themselves poles and wire to grow vertically. You will want to use a heavy duty structure to grow these, and the squash and pumpkins are rather heavy once they are ready to harvest.
Peas.
Beans. Pole beans are the only type of beans that grow vertically and need support as they climb towards the sky.
Tomatoes.
Melon.
supplies you will need:
To make a rustic garden trellis, you will need to gather up some tools and supplies. Making your own garden trellises can be expensive if you are purchasing the materials from the hardware store or garden center. I prefer to use the materials that I have available to me, if possible. If you do not live on a property where there are branches available, try asking your neighbors, family members, or online community if anyone would be willing to have you come clean up their fallen branches and put them to use. You can also try calling your county extension to see if there is anyone who may have materials they are willing to trade, sell, or give away.
Here are some supplies you will need to make a natural trellis:
Tree Branches of various sizes
Bamboo Poles
Willow Branches
Shovel
Saw
Screws or Nails
Power Drill or Hammer
Garden Twine or Garden Wire
how to build a rustic trellis:
To build a rustic trellis, you will have to pull out the engineer side of your brain to put these together. There really is no one set way to build a trellis, and it’s entirely up to you on how you would like it to look. Below, I am sharing images of what I have made and seen in the past. These are simply ideas!
To determine the size and shape of your trellis, you will have to measure out the space in your garden and determine what will be growing on the trellis in question.
Once you have decided how big and what type of trellis, it’s time to build.
Remove Spurs & Twigs. Remove any spurs or twigs from your branches so that they are somewhat smooth and even. Then, measure them out to the lengths you will need and figure out where each branch will go. Add about 1 to 2 feet for each branch that will be going into the ground.
Dig Holes. Dig holes about 1 to 2 feet deep for your main poles to be buried. This will ensure that your trellis does not fall over in the wind or during a storm or even from the weight of your plants. Bury or hammer the main structural poles of your trellis in the holes and compact the earth around them with your feet.
Drill Together. Use a drill or hammer to screw or nail your structure together. If you are using heavier branches, this is necessary. For smaller teepees and structures made with small branches and twigs, you can simply tie them together with twine or garden wire.
String It Up. Once your structure is built, wrap garden twine or garden wire in areas where you want the plants to climb.
different trellis ideas:
Building a garden trellis is a truly unique creative opportunity! Everyone’s garden has different needs. You will have to determine which type of trellis best suits your needs and your garden. Here are some ideas of trellises that I have made or seen at historical villages and museums in the past.
The Bean Teepee:
This is a common garden structure in various garden, it works great for so many different types of vegetables. You can make your garden teepee in various sizes and with different types of materials.
For a large teepee, you can use thicker branches and create a space that is big enough for a child or yourself to sit in. If you would like to sit in it, make sure you leave a space open to be able to climb in! Teepees can also be made from smaller branches or bamboo poles to act like a cage for tomatoes, peppers, and other bushy plants that need a little extra support.
The teepee structure is perfect for growing cucumbers, beans, peas, climbing flowers, and tomatoes.
Lattice trellis:
A lattice trellis is my favorite because its so versatile, fits easily into a raised bed, and is ideal for easy harvesting. You can easily see the vegetables you are picking and get to them. Other structures are visually appealing, but this one is the best for practical purposes!
The lattice trellis, or wall trellis, is ideal for growing cucumbers, beans, peas, tomatoes, and squash.
a-frame two-sided trellis:
This type of trellis is similar to the lattice trellis, except that it’s a bit more heavy-duty. I have had several structures like this, and I prefer them for bigger fruiting vegetables because it can handle the weight from these massive fruits and plants. It can woven with twine or left bare, depending on what you are growing.
The a-frame trellis is ideal for growing squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers.
pole and wire trellis:
This is probably one of the best known and easiest trellises to make. This particular image is from the Yorktown museum in Virginia. It is made with manufactured poles, which could easily be swapped out for branches, and then the twine is tied like a net. You can also simply string twine or wire in parallel lines, like the lattice trellis. This can be great for corralling in plants that tend to fall over, like dahlias or cosmos, or vertically training tomatoes.
The pole and wire trellis is ideal for tomatoes, beans, peas, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, and flowers.
final thoughts:
If you have always wanted your garden to feel like a fairytale, then I highly suggest giving homemade rustic trellises a try! They add so much charm and whimsy to your vegetable garden without even trying. Not to mention that the materials are nearly free, or come at a very low cost, so it makes the entire trellising idea feel much more achievable. I hope that you enjoyed learning how to make a rustic garden trellis!
xoxo Kayla
