Unblemished vegetables, masterful centerpieces, and sound-absorbing privacy screens –– creative trellis ideas hold the secret to many sought-after landscape hacks. Whether you’re a DIY mastermind or prefer hiring the professionals, these 22 trellis ideas that are simple and easy will turn any homeowner’s landscape into a showpiece.
Trellises are a must in your landscape, especially if you’re stuck with a small yard. These handy structures are excellent space-savers, as they can serve multiple purposes at once. Their functionality makes them the perfect addition to your vegetable garden, pergola, deck, container garden, or side yard.
In this piece:
- What is a Trellis?
- 22 Trellis Ideas for Your Landscape
- FAQ About Trellises
What is a Trellis?
A trellis is a structure that supports climbing plants, its open framework enabling plants to grow upward.
Trellises are typically made of wood but can feature many materials, including metal, rope, garden twine, wire, bamboo, or PVC.
22 Trellis Ideas for Your Landscape
1. Trellised Planter Box
A trellised planter box adds aesthetic appeal and an opportunity to grow self-climbers, such as climbing hydrangea or ornamental hyacinth bean.
Your planter box can showcase a few of your favorite annuals, while the trellis shows off a living wall that can even act as a privacy screen. The design is the perfect 3-in-1 for a small garden or small yard.
2. Beautiful Trellis Tunnel
Turn a spacious backyard into a magical trellis tunnel. It’s a creative way to attract visitors to your new butterfly garden and make the most of peaceful evening walks.
Grow star jasmine vine along your arched trellises. Its sweet scent and creamy petals will feel like heaven.
3. Support Your Vegetables
Trellising your vegetables has many benefits, including:
- Improving air circulation around your plants.
- Keeping foliage off the ground and away from soil-borne diseases.
- Exposing more leaves to sunlight.
- Making vegetables easier to pick.
- Enabling better pollination.
4. Container Garden Trellis
Even a container garden will benefit from a supporting framework. Either install the trellis inside the pot or place the trellis outside the pot and directly next to it.
For visual appeal, consider using a lattice trellis. The crisscrossing lattice pattern will bring a lovely texture to your container garden.
5. Caged Tomato Trellis
For a bountiful harvest and unblemished tomatoes, grow these delicious fruits (yes, tomatoes are technically fruits) with trellised cages.
As your tomato plants grow upward, their delicate branches grow burdened with massive fruit.A tomato cage helps prop the thriving plants’ weight and ensure the tomatoes are protected from pests and diseases.
6. Atop a Pergola
A trellis needn’t always be on the ground. Why not have it on the ceiling?
Have your favorite climbing blooms grow up your pergola and along its rooftop. You and your guests will relish the extra shade, the fresh perfumes, and the delicate ceiling petals.
7. Design a Rope-and-Bamboo Trellis
Get creative with materials for your trellis ideas. Not everyone has spare wood lying around in the tool shed. A rope-and-bamboo trellis can do wonders for growing your small vegetables.
8. Wall Trellis Climbers
Are you looking to transform your side yard or your home’s exterior? Attach a trellis to the wall and watch climbers steal the show.
For a dramatic pop of color, grow climbers like sweet pea, mandevilla, bougainvillea, and trumpet vine along your wall trellis.
9. A-Frame Garden Trellis
An A-frame garden trellis is an easy DIY project. The frame’s tall height and leaning structure help make it an appealing focal point in the garden area.
These handy garden trellis ideas are especially useful for growing pole beans.
10. Garden Arbor
You put a great deal of time and energy into designing your moon garden. The right thing to do is show it off.
Install an arching trellis arbor at the entrance of your moon garden to attract the eye of guests. The focal point will draw your guests’ attention, and a charming walking path leading to the moon garden will make them eager to explore.
11. Grow a Vertical Garden
Vertical gardens are the perfect solution for homeowners who don’t have the yard space to grow a regular garden. There are many ways to create a vertical garden design.
Depending on how you build your upward garden, a wire or wood trellis can help support your plants against gravity’s pull.
12. Spruce up the Deck
Install a trellis above or around your back deck. If you install it along the deck’s perimeter, your potted plants will be growing right next to it. You can even turn it into a chevron border full of blooming, climbing roses.
For added shade and charm, cover the deck’s trellis rooftop with your favorite climbers.
13. Involve your Bench
Turn your reading bench into a calming, beautiful sanctuary with a blooming trellis. Either install the trellis next to your bench or build your wooden seat right into the trellis itself.
As you rest in your outdoor reading nook, you’ll enjoy the privacy that a living wall of climbing vines can give you.
14. Craft your Gazebo or Pavilion
If you’re building a pavilion or gazebo in your secret garden, include a trellis in its design. Wisteria, trumpet honeysuckle, and cypress vines will turn the small building into a more private getaway.
15. Make it a Centerpiece
A trellis makes an attractive centerpiece in the landscape. It can bring unity to the backyard or turn your front lawn into a beauty.
Whether it’s a freestanding trellis, wall trellis, teepee trellis, or arch trellis, any trellis covered in white climbing roses will have your neighbors oohing and ahhing over your landscaping focal point.
16. Build a Privacy Screen
Trellises are an excellent tool for privacy landscaping. Intricate lattice work with a compact pattern can make a useful privacy screen by itself.
Want another dose of security?
Grow creeping fig up your lattice. The ivy will create a thick layer to block out wandering eyes and help absorb any distracting noise.
17. Install a Trellis Fence
A trellis fence around the perimeter of your yard will help ward off intruders, keep the kids away from the road, and create boundaries for your outdoor pets.
18. Carve out Separate Areas
A trellis not only supports plants and creates curb appeal, but it also helps to separate areas of the yard.
Perhaps you’d like your zen rock garden to have a detachment from the busy street just a few feet away. Install a simple trellis fence, gate, screen, or arbor to help you disconnect from the outside world and find peace in your rock garden.
19. Wire Trellis
Wire trellises have many benefits and are popular for their low maintenance requirements.
Durable wire trellises won’t rot from water exposure like wood, and they can be installed around tall buildings to hold up heavy vining plants. The wire often can withstand the effects of weather.
20. Front Lawn Entryway
Make an unforgettable first impression with a grand entryway to your front lawn landscape. An arched trellis will have your friends and family thinking they’ve stepped into a one-of-a-kind lawn (which they have).
For an outstanding impression, cover your striking entryway with firecracker vine, Carolina jasmine, or morning glory.
21. Bolster the Flower Beds
Are your tall flowers getting tangled together or drooping? Install a trellis in your flower beds or raised beds for support.
Your black-eyed Susans and coneflowers will be even more eye-catching as they wrap around garden trellises.
22. Gateway Trellis
If your garden gate or driveway gate has the right design, it can make a great trellis. Spruce up its wrought-iron framework with Boston ivy, wisteria, or black-eyed Susan vine.
FAQ About Trellises
Where Should I Install my Trellis?
The best place to install your trellis is where you’ll get the most use out of it.
If the neighbor’s trash cans are spoiling your view, or you want a private outdoor living space, use your trellis as a privacy screen. Install it near your patio, gazebo, deck, or outdoor space for security and comfort.
If you’re a green thumb looking forward to the fruits and vegetables every year, your garden space may be the perfect spot for a trellis.
Do you need a boost of curb appeal? Install your freestanding trellis in the front yard or hang a trellis near your home’s front door.
Want your friends and family to explore your favorite parts of the yard? Lead them in the right direction with an enticing trellis arbor.
What are the Best Flowering Vines to Grow on my Trellis?
Several self-climbing flowers will look spectacular on your trellis. With plenty of options available, you needn’t limit yourself.
Need a few suggestions? How about these:
• Clematis
• Climbing hydrangea
• Chocolate vine
• Trumpet vine
• Moonflower
• Nasturtium
• Hardy Kiwi vine
• Cypress vine
Which Fruits and Vegetables Grow Well on a Trellis?
Many of your veggies and fruits will love having a trellis to climb, including:
• Pole beans
• Peas
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Tomatoes
• Summer squash
Do I Need a Builder’s Permit to Build a Trellis?
In some cases, you may need a builder’s permit to install your trellis. A small trellis in your garden likely won’t require a builder’s permit, but a tall trellis fence or privacy screen may.
Check your local building codes or homeowners’ association for proper guidelines on your trellis ideas.
When to Hire a Professional
Not all of us have a talent for building our own trellis. That’s where the professionals can help.
Call a professional landscaper near you for trellis ideas, design, or installation. A landscaper can discuss different trellis styles, like chevron or lattice, and can even help you decide on materials.
Your landscaper may even be equipped with a green thumb and be happy to plant your flowering vines for you. You can rest assured your flowers will be planted correctly and have no trouble growing along your trellis.
Main image credit: David Mark / Pixabay
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Jane Purnell
Jane Purnell is an artist, writer, and nature lover. She enjoys teaching readers about the importance of eco-friendly lawn care, integrated pest management, biodiversity, and sustainable landscaping.
Posts by Jane Purnell
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in landscape design and gardening, I can provide you with valuable information related to the concepts used in this article. I have extensive knowledge and experience in creating beautiful outdoor spaces and incorporating trellises into landscape designs. Over the years, I have worked on numerous projects where I have successfully implemented trellis ideas to enhance the overall aesthetics and functionality of the outdoor areas.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed the transformative power of trellises. They are versatile structures that can serve multiple purposes and add visual interest to any landscape. By using various materials such as wood, metal, rope, garden twine, wire, bamboo, or PVC, trellises can be customized to suit any design style or preference.
What is a Trellis? A trellis is a structure that supports climbing plants, providing an open framework for them to grow upward. While wood is a common material used for trellises, there are many options available, including metal, rope, garden twine, wire, bamboo, or PVC.
22 Trellis Ideas for Your Landscape The article highlights 22 trellis ideas that can turn any homeowner's landscape into a showpiece. Here are some of the trellis ideas mentioned:
-
Trellised Planter Box: A trellised planter box combines aesthetic appeal with the opportunity to grow self-climbing plants. It can act as a privacy screen and is perfect for small gardens or yards.
-
Beautiful Trellis Tunnel: Transform a spacious backyard into a magical trellis tunnel by growing vine plants along arched trellises. The sweet scent and vibrant colors will create a captivating atmosphere.
-
Support Your Vegetables: Trellising your vegetables has numerous benefits, including improving air circulation, keeping foliage off the ground, and making vegetables easier to pick.
-
Container Garden Trellis: Even a container garden can benefit from a trellis. Consider using a lattice trellis to add visual appeal and texture to the garden.
-
Caged Tomato Trellis: Use trellised cages to support tomato plants and ensure a bountiful harvest of unblemished fruits.
-
Atop a Pergola: Install a trellis on the ceiling of a pergola and let climbing plants grow along it. This creates extra shade, fresh perfumes, and a unique ambiance.
-
Design a Rope-and-Bamboo Trellis: Get creative with materials by using a rope-and-bamboo trellis, which can be ideal for growing small vegetables.
-
Wall Trellis Climbers: Attach a trellis to a wall to transform your side yard or home's exterior. Grow climbers like sweet pea, mandevilla, bougainvillea, or trumpet vine to add a dramatic pop of color.
-
A-Frame Garden Trellis: An A-frame garden trellis is an easy DIY project that serves as an appealing focal point for growing pole beans.
-
Garden Arbor: Install an arching trellis arbor at the entrance of your moon garden to create a captivating focal point.
These are just a few examples of the trellis ideas mentioned in the article. Each idea offers a unique way to incorporate trellises into your landscape and enhance its overall beauty.
FAQ About Trellises The article also provides answers to frequently asked questions about trellises. Here are a few of the questions and answers:
Where Should I Install my Trellis? The best place to install a trellis is where it will be most useful. It can be used as a privacy screen near a patio, deck, or outdoor space, or as a focal point in the garden or front yard.
What are the Best Flowering Vines to Grow on my Trellis? There are many flowering vines that look spectacular on trellises, such as clematis, climbing hydrangea, chocolate vine, trumpet vine, moonflower, nasturtium, hardy kiwi vine, and cypress vine.
Which Fruits and Vegetables Grow Well on a Trellis? Many fruits and vegetables thrive when grown on trellises, including pole beans, peas, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, and summer squash.
Do I Need a Builder's Permit to Build a Trellis? Depending on the size and location of your trellis, you may need a builder's permit. It's important to check your local building codes or homeowners' association guidelines to ensure compliance.
When to Hire a Professional: If you're not confident in your ability to build or install a trellis, it's always a good idea to hire a professional landscaper who can provide expert advice, design ideas, and proper installation techniques.
In summary, trellises are versatile structures that can add beauty and functionality to any landscape. They provide support for climbing plants, create privacy screens, and enhance the overall aesthetics of outdoor spaces. By considering the trellis ideas mentioned in the article and following the provided FAQ, homeowners can transform their landscapes into stunning showpieces.
