How to Build A Simple Sturdy Vegetable Garden Trellis
Want to grow more delicious vegetables in less garden space? Grow your cucumbers and other vine-growing veggie plants on a sturdy home made garden trellis. This spring I built a 3 ft x 5 ft garden trellis to support the cucumbers in our vegetable garden.
I made the DIY cucumber trellis from leftover wire garden fence and two saplings cut from the woods in my back yard. This strong and simple vegetable trellis took me about an hour to build using simple hand tools (saw and hammer).
I try to use natural materials and supplies I have already to create my garden walls, trellises and pathways. I have a pile of sapling poles made from cutting and trimming down young trees we thinned from our woods. I've been using these 2- and 3-inch diameter poles to make natural fencing, trellises and plant stakes for my Vermont gardens and raised beds.
Total cost of my garden cucumber trellis: about $2.00 for some nylon twine
Here's how you can make your own low-cost veggie trellis from scrap lumber or sapling poles and inexpensive wire garden fence.
Organic Cucumber Needs a Trellis
Small Space Gardening Tips
Vertical Gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Container Gardens
There are many ways you can have a productive garden in a small space. You can even grow vegetables on an apartment balcony or small patio if you don't have garden space or a yard. If you have a small garden area, vertical gardening techniques, container gardens and square foot gardening methods will help you get more vegetables and flowers from your tiny garden.
Derek Fell shows you how to use all the space in a small garden - grow up and grow down to maximize container and square foot gardens.
Anyone can enjoy a successful flower and vegetable garden, from kids to seniors to adults with limited mobility - by planting a square foot garden. Make your garden more productive and more convenient. A square foot small space garden can be located near your back door, on the patio or even on a balcony.
Learn the simple methods and many benefits of growing a vertical garden. Small trellised vegetable gardens minimize weeding chores, cut down on pest control and maximize veggie harvests.
Step 1: Measure and cut saplings for vegetable trellis frame
How to Build a Vegetable Trellis
You'll need only a measuring tape, hand saw and a hammer.
Measure and Cut Your Poles
I had 36-inch wide wire fence on hand, so I decided to build a 3ft x 5ft cucumber trellis. First I measured and cut the side poles from saplings about 2 inches in diameter. I decided to add an extra 6 inches to the finished length of the side poles so I would have legs at the bottom, so I cut my 2 side poles at 66 inches. The sides needed to be 36 inches apart from outer edge to outer edge, so I cut the two horizontal poles 38 inches long to leave a slight extra overlap for lashing.
Lay out the poles and check measurements.
Lay the side poles (longer poles) to roughly the width of your trellis, then place the horizontal poles across. Lay your fencing or netting on top to check fit; the fencing edges should be aligned with the outside edges of the long poles. The top of your fencing needs to overlap the top horizontal bar by a few inches. You'll need to also overlap the bottom - keep this in mind when you cut your fencing material. Check that your side poles are even at the bottom.
Fiskars Bow Saw
Cuts, trims, even preps firewood
I used my simple hand saw like this one to cut the sapling poles to size for my cucumber trellis. I also used this same saw to cut down the saplings when I thinned out the woods in my back yard.
30-inch bow saw makes fast work of cutting down small trees, removing large limbs or trimming logs and branches down to size.
Gardener's Pruning Saw
Handy Saw for Trimming Branches and Garden Stakes
Sturdy and compact razor tooth saw with a curved blade is just the right size for trimming branches and garden cleanup. Chrome plated replaceable 14-inch blade has 3-sided teeth for fast, efficient cutting; limited lifetime warranty from this well-established manufactuer.
Steps 2-3: Lay out sapling poles then lash garden trellis frame together
Fasten trellis frame poles together
Wrap garden twine in lashing pattern to join corners together
Lash the frame together.
Position the bottom horizontal pole on top of the side poles, roughly aligning its end with the outer edge of the side pole. Loop and wind your garden twine tightly around both poles, then lash them together by wrapping in an X pattern over and under both poles, as shown in the photos below. Repeat for both sides on the bottom, then check with your fencing that the frame is straight.
Repeat the placement for the top horizontal pole, and lash the sapling poles together.
Check that your side poles are even at the bottom, then using the fence fabric as your guide for width, place the top horizontal pole across the side poles and lash together. After frame is securely tied together, you're ready to cut the fence material and staple it to the sapling poles
Lash frame poles together at corners, using an X pattern.
Trellis corner lashing detail
Garden Twines
Wire, Sisal, Nylon or Fiber Twine for Garden Use
I used black nylon twine I had on hand in my craft stash to lash together my trellis frame poles. This tomato twine is similar.
You can use a natural fiber sisal or jute garden twine to lash your frame together, but be aware it will rot after a couple seasons.
Steps 4 - 6: Measure and cut fence fabric, then nail it to frame
Cover Trellis Frame with Fence Fabric
Attach fencing to all poles; vertical poles are "right" side of frame
Prepare your frame for fence fabric.
Flip the frame over so that the side poles are on the top. Lay your fence fabric on the frame and cut it to fit the frame, leaving a few inches to wrap at the top and bottom.
Attach fencing to frame.
Using galvanized fencing staples, nail the fence fabric to the frame, starting at the top and working down the sides. Keep the fence material straight as you work. You don't need to put a staple across the wire in every square - alternate blocks will be strong enough. When you reach the bottom you may need to cut a few wire strands in the fence to fit it around the poles. (See how I did this in the photo above, lower left corner near lashing.)
Wire Cutter Tool
Heavy Duty Side Cutters for Wire and Fence Cutting
A good wire cutter is a standard tool in any homeowner's or electrician's tool box.
Heavy gauge drop forged and heat treated steel side cutter, sometimes called a lineman's cutter. Cuts through fence fabric easily and quickly.
Finished vegetable trellis, propped in garden with a tree branch
Place your finished veggie trellis in the garden
Prop up with a branchy sapling, scrap 2x3 or lashed garden stakes
Place your trellis in the garden, propped up at a 45-degree angle.
I used a strong sapling with a few trimmed branches left on the trunk to prop up my rustic trellis. If you don't have another sapling you can use lengths of scrap lumber to support the trellis, or lean it against a fence if you have one that's strong enough.
Plant peas, lettuce or kale under the trellis - they like cooler temperatures
Photo Tutorial: How to Build a Vegetable Trellis
How to build a simple rustic cucumber trellis for your vegetable garden
Angle trellis at about 45 degrees, push legs into soil and brace top with another sapling or two pieces of scrap lumber.
Wire Fence Fabric for Garden Trellises
Use fence fabric with large holes
I used green fence fabric similar to this for my cucumber trellis project.
Black PVC coating over 14 gauge fence wire with 2-inch x 4-inch openings. This roll is 36 inches tall, the same size I used. The fabric comes in different sizes ranging from 24 inches to 60 inches tall. I wouldn't recommend making a vegetable trellis wider than 48 inches, but you could make a narrower trellis with 24-inch fencing.
Simple Starter Vegetable Gardens
Top Rated Beginner Vegetable Garden Book
Plans and guidance for 24 easy vegetable gardens from small bag-containers to specialty greens and spices plus all the mus-have vegetable garden plans for a beginning or starter vegetable garden.
Written by a master gardener who gives you plant, tips plus Q&A for creating 24 fun and practical starter gardens, including these unique small scale plans:
- Easy-Care Bag Garden
- Backyard Veggie Border
- Front-Yard Food Supply
- Family Food Factory
- Paintbrush Beds
- High-Value Verticals
- Marinara Medley
- Managed Mulch Garden
- Sweet Corn & Company
- Cajun Spice
- Six-Weeks-Sooner Salad Garden
Small Space Gardening: Grow Veggies on a Vegetable Trellis
If your home garden space is small and you're looking for a way to get more produce from a tiny vegetable patch, try growing veggies on a trellis... Read more
I try to use what I have on hand to create my garden walls, trellises and pathways. I have a pile of poles made from sapling trees we trimmed from our woods that I've been using to make fencing, trellises and garden stakes.