One of the most desirable home amenities is a spacious outdoor living space. If you’ve nabbed a pad with a blooming backyard you’ve probably spent your fair share of weekend afternoons getting your garden in tiptop shape. It makes sense that most homeowners put great thought into their plant selection and tend to spend less time on the “hardscape”—the nonplant parts of the landscape. In addition to garden beds, ceramic vases, and a stone path, one of the most striking structures you can add to your garden is a trellis. So what is a trellis, and how can it take your outdoor oasis to the next level? Allow us to explain.
A trellis is commonly defined as an open framework or lattice of interwoven or intersecting pieces of material that supports climbing plants. These structures can be freestanding or attached to the side of your house or a fence.
Many homeowners fill them with bushy plants and use them as a privacy wall for their yard. They can also conceal a boring yard fence, a plain side of the house, or an unsightly view of the road.
Photo by Arrow. Land + Structures
“A trellis can add dimension and a striking graphic element to an otherwise plain section of your backyard,” says design consultant Barbara Mount of Barbara Mount Designs in Lake Oswego, OR.
The classic trellis is used to support climbing perennials and vegetables, but now people are using them as decorative accents in the yard with no purpose other than to make garden art, Mount adds.
“Thanks to Pinterest, people are inspired to get much more creative with their trellises. They’ve gone from the classic one-dimensional natural cedar or arched copper styles to over-the-top ones made from old doors, bed springs, ladders, packing crates, and twigs from your backyard,” she says.
A trellis, an arbor, and a pergola—what’s the difference?
While often used interchangeably, these three garden structures are different. It’s understandable because all three typically consist of a lattice-type decor with climbing plants.
The tipoff? A trellis is flat and vertical—either freestanding or leaning against another structure. By contrast, an arbor is arched—think plants climbing above and on the sides—and a pergola indicates that the structure has a roof.
Photo by Andrew Renn—Green plants branch off of a traditional pergola covering a deck.
Photo by B. Gordon Builders, Inc.—An arbor filled with an unruly flower bush gives this garden a whimsical feel.
Best plants for a trellis
Mount says that climbing plants and vegetable plants with vines work well on trellises. These can include the following:
- Sweet pea
- Lavender
- Clematis
- Climbing roses like Gertrude Jekyll
- Bean
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
When planning your trellis, make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold your vegetation, especially when it’s at full bloom. Some plants, such as wisteria and climbing roses, will become quite heavy when mature so make sure that the structure you choose can support them. A rule of thumb is to make your post holes at 2 two feet deep before you install your trellis.
Also make sure to choose plants that are right for the amount of shade or sun your backyard receives, and take care to water and prune them as needed.
How much does a trellis cost?
Homeowners can purchase prefab models for prices that start at $20, depending on the size and material. A professionally built piece will typically range from $500 to $1,000 for materials and labor.
But homeowners can also build their own trellis fairly easily using reclaimed materials (old wood pallets are ideal). Watch the video below for a tutorial on how to build your own trellis.
