Gardening: What you should know before buying a Trellis
This guide & Articles is currently in production & is subject to change.
Do you know what kind of garden trellis you need for your plants to grow? There are various options when it comes to trellis —trying to fo find the right one for your needs can be confusing if you’re unfamiliar with them
A quick look at the most popular types of garden trellises, and what each type is designed for makes finding the perfect trelis for your needs easy.
- Arches – These are much more decorative. Many people tend to use them for flowers like roses.
- Flat Trellis – These are also used for flowers. They are often used for privacy and are often made out of wood or metal.
- Tripod – These are functional and beautiful. Your plants can grow up and inside of the trellis.
Cages and Ladders
People most often use these for their tomato or vegetable plants since they are so strong and tall. - Fencing and Porches – Climbing plants like roses love these! You can even use a chain-link fence.
- Woven Garden Trellis – Weave bamboo, wood or even some sturdy branches and you’ll have a fantastic trellis.
Choose Sturdy Supports
You must consider the maximum weight support of any trellis. Use materials that are sturdy enough for your vegetables to grab onto. That’s why I prefer bamboo. It is heavy-duty and can handle even the heaviest of climbers. You can easily find bamboo DIY guides if you’re feeling creative.
You’ll want to pick out weatherproof materials aswell. Keep in mind, this is going to be outside during rainstorms and inclement weather. Refrain from using anything that will break down in the wind and rain.
Bamboo is durable, and so is twine. You can even choose to use galvanized metal, reclaimed wood, or sturdy branches from around your own yard.
Decorative Or Not
Next, you’ll want to decide whether the garden trellis’ job is to be decorative, show off the plant, or to give the plant space to grow.
If you want it to be decorative, then you should buy something like an arched trellis. Other trellises such as tripods are much more functional because they were built with the sole purpose of supporting the vegetables on the vine
Based off my own experience, here are the best types of vegetables and flowers you can grow on a bamboo trellis without breaking it.
Cucumbers
Beans
Peas
Flowers
Cucamelons
Cherry Tomatoes
Avoid trying to grow heavier plants on it like melons as it will not be supported and it may ruin the way everything grows.
If you do want to grow heavier veggies on a homemade trellis, you can lean it to the side and supports so that it looks like a triangle. This will make it stronger and able to hold those heavier vegetables.
Pea plants grasp onto netting, twine, or thin bamboo poles with their curly tendrils. This pea trellis made with twine is a perfect solution to fit a lot of peas into a small space, but it can also be as successful and a bit more sturdy to use a woven bamboo trellis (plus it’s better for those less gentle pea pickers, AKA kids and the dog).