Have you wondered exactly what is a trellis? Maybe you confuse a trellis with a pergola, which is easy to do. The dictionary defines a trellis as “a plant support for climbing plants,” if used as a noun. As a verb, it is used as the action taken to make the plant climb. It is all this, but it can be so much more.
Trellis Support for Plants
Trellising in gardens does, indeed, allow and encourage the upward growth of bountiful blooms or attractive foliage. A trellis is often attached to a pergola. Using them together provides upward growth on the sides and spreading growth on top. That said, they’re most often freestanding.
A trellis is used for more than ornamental greenery and blooms though. It can be a great support for many fruits and vegetables that grow in your edible garden. Upward growth allows you to conserve space and grow more in a small area. Harvesting is easier, with less bending and stooping. Any plant that spreads from runners can be trained upward. Special provisions may be necessary to hold growing fruit as it gets large, but the issue is not with the plant growing upward.
Any crop trained to grow upward has the benefit of staying off the ground and has less potential for rotting or other damage that happens when edibles lay on the ground. Various trellis types are usually attractively put together, but any upward support works for crops like peas and indeterminate tomatoes.
When starting a crop on a trellis, it may need training, but many species readily grab onto any support that is close enough for vines to reach. You can put together a simple trellis for use in the vegetable garden. Those that support ornamentals may need a little more planning to increase your curb appeal. No garden? That’s okay. There are many options for houseplant trellises too.
How to Make a Trellis
Latticework is associated with the trellis and is often used along with one by one poles or planks. Sometimes, wire is used instead.
Have some idea how much weight your trellis needs to hold when choosing materials. Designs for building a trellis are plentiful online. Many are pyramidal poles in the ground with mesh or chicken wire between. A DIY cattle panel trellis is another simple and cost-effective option.
Before buying a trellis, check for materials you may already have available.
-
Elegant Exotics: 8 Beautiful Amaryllis Varieties That Will Brighten Any Holiday DisplayWhether red, pink, white or variegated, the right amaryllis varieties can enhance any living space, especially during the holidays. We round up eight of the most exquisite
-
Forage For Herbs: 7 Tasty And Safe Wild Herbs To Pick Close To Your Own BackyardIn addition to growing your own herbal staples, did you know there are several wild options out there that are safe and tasty – and free? Try foraging these 7 wild herbs
-
7 Invasive Vines To Avoid In Your Yard And GardenWhat are some common invasive vines to avoid in your yard and garden spaces? Click here to find out.
-
Fragrant Climbing Vines For Arbors And TrellisesAdding fragrant climbing vines to the landscape adds a sense of height and olfactory pleasure! Climbing vines make your space more lush, interesting, and vibrant.
-
10 Flowering Vines With An Extended Bloom SeasonWhether you’re short on space, need to add privacy or hide unsightly views, take advantage of your vertical space with flowering vines.
-
Queen’s Wreath Info – Learn About Growing Queen’s Wreath PlantsFor a touch of the tropics in your landscape, try growing queen’s wreath vine. The following gives information on how to grow and care for the vine.
-
Crimson Glory Grapevines – Growing A Crimson Glory Vine PlantAlso known as Crimson Glory grapevines, the Crimson Glory vine plant is actually an ornamental type of grape. Read on for more info.
-
What Are Deciduous Vines: Growing Deciduous Vine Varieties In GardensDeciduous vine care may be a bit more difficult than hardy evergreens but will be worth it when they come back in spring. Click here for more info.
-
Vines For Full Sun Locations: Growing Vines That Like SunTrailing vines that like full sun can grow up a fence, trellis, or an arbor with various purposes in the landscape. Find some full sun vines here.
-
What Are Tendrils For – Should Tendrils Be Removed From VinesMost gardeners have had one or more climbing plants in the garden that have tendrils. What are tendrils for? Should they be removed? Find out here.
