DIY Veggie Garden Trellis

A trellis allows you to use the vertical space of your garden, so you can plant more. When plants are off the ground, vegetables are less likely to rot. A trellis can also help prevent disease and reduce the effects of insects on your plants.

When you add a trellis to your garden, you may see an increased harvest. Plus, picking produce from plants on a trellis can keep you from bending down so often.

A DIY veggie trellis should be built and installed before your plants are in the ground. Add the vegetable plants after the trellis has been created. A trellis can support plants in pots, as well as those growing in the soil. As the plants develop, guide them to grow up the trellis.

Another way to expand your growing space is with vertical garden planters. Available in a variety of styles, these structures offer space to stack containers for plants of all kinds.

With support from a trellis, produce on vines can grow bigger and better. Plus, because the vegetables stay off the ground, what you pick will have less dirt on it.

These vegetables are well suited to a trellis:

• Cucumbers
• Pole Beans
• Snap Peas
• Snow Peans
• Sugar Peas
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes

With bamboo garden stakes, you can create a trellis with a teepee-style frame. You’ll need four 6-foot bamboo stakes, a sharp knife and garden twine.

• Cut a small notch on each stake to make wrapping the twine around the bamboo easier. Use a knife to cut the notch 1-inch from one end of each piece.
• To form the top of the trellis, wrap the twine around the notch in the first stake. Connect the second stake to the first one with twine.
• Continue adding the last two stakes until the ends of all four of them are wrapped in twine. Tie the twine in a tight knot to hold the stakes together.
• Once the stakes have been connected, the trellis is ready to go in the ground. Stand it up with the loose ends resting on the soil. Arrange each stake so that the frame seems stable.
• Push each stake into the ground several inches to keep the trellis sturdy.

Some vegetable plants, like tomatoes, squash and cucumbers, need a strong base as they grow. For plants like these, you can use a ladder or wood pallet to make a trellis.

• Lean the ladder or pallet against a fence or a wall in your backyard.
• If the total weight of your plants won’t be too heavy, the bottom end of the ladder or pallet can rest on the soil.
• If your DIY veggie trellis needs more support, put paving stones onto the ground. Rest the end of the ladder or pallet on the pavers, rather than on the bare ground.

When your trellis is ready, it’s time for planting. Start by adding some garden soil in your planting area. Mix three inches of garden soil into the top six inches of the existing soil. Adding this organic matter will provide nutrition for your plants.

After adding garden soil, check to be sure your trellis is stable. Use a trowel to dig holes near the base of the trellis. Place young plants in the holes and fill with soil. Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands as you work.

To get the most out of the structure, guide your plants as they grow. When needed, you can tie vines to the trellis with garden twine.

When your plants have been in the ground for a month, you can begin to feed them with plant food. Fertilizing your plants can help them grow to new heights. Follow the directions on the label of the product you’re using for best results.