24 best DIY garden trellis ideas & designs: build easy cucumber trellis, bean teepee, beautiful vine pergola, plant screen, & vegetable garden structures!
As a garden designer and plant lover, one of my favorite garden elements is the garden trellis. A plant trellis can add so much charm and functionality in a landscape design.
It offers supports for beautiful flowering or fruiting vines ( such as rose or cucumber trellis ), adds more growing area for small gardens and in raised beds, and helps to create attractive outdoor spaces such as arches, tunnels, gates, privacy screens, and beautiful walls and fences.
These 21 DIY-friendly garden trellis ideas and vertical growing structure projects will show you how to make a simple garden trellis, and create an abundant and beautiful garden!
* Some resources in article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here .
A couple of FAQs: “How tall should a trellis be?”
For smaller climbing plants such as cucumbers, bush (determinate) tomatoes, or peas, a 3′ to 4′ tall trellis is plenty. For taller plants such as indeterminate tomatoes, beans, and many green or flowering vines, you will want a trellis over 5′ tall, or an overhead arch or pergola which are at least 7′ tall.
1. Magical DIY bamboo bean teepees garden trellis
A teepee is a very easy to build garden structure. This easy DIY bean teepee is made of bamboo stakes and garden twine. A teepee trellis takes up very little storage when not in use. ( Source: Artful Parent )
2. Build a garden teepee cucumber trellis with branches
A garden teepee made of branches is a delightful retreat for all ages! You can also use it as a cucumber trellis. ( Source: Serendipity Life )
3. Tomato trellis works better than tomato cages
This simple DIY tomato trellis made it possible for us to grow over 100 lbs of tomatoes in just 20 square feet. Tutorial and building plan here.
4. Enchanting arched trellis ideas
A tunnel adds so much charm to a garden. It invites us to walk through and explore the garden with childlike wonder. This attractive squash arch trellis is made of branches and garden wires. Choose softer branches such as willow branches that are easy to bend .
5. How to build arched garden trellis
You can make trellis arch from many materials, such as branches, or PVC pipes.
You may also like: 25 most beautiful and DIY friendly garden paths
6. How to build bamboo garden trellis
Bamboo poles are strong yet light weight, which makes them easy to work with. You can create vertical garden structures and tie plants to the poles as they grow. ( Source: Elmueble )
7. Easy DIY bamboo trellis with strings
This type of bamboo garden trellis is great for growing climbing plants like tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, peas, etc. ( Source: Fine Gardening )
8. Simple and sturdy A-frame wood trellis panels for garden and pots
Two wood framed panels joined together with hinges, these garden trellis panels can be stored flat when not in use. Smaller trellises like this is also great for gardening in pots and containers. ( Source: 8 | Gardeners )
9. DIY A-frame garden trellis ideas
There are lots of creative variations for an A frame trellis, such as using hardware panel on the tomato trellis, or strings on the cucumber trellis. ( Source: Amazon | An Oregon Cottage )
You may also love: 24 beautiful container gardens with planting list for each!
11. Easy cucumber trellis
The simple fold-able trellis design is great for a cucumber trellis. ( Source: Amazon )
12. Painted wood trellis
A painted wooden trellis adds so much color and charm to a garden! ( Source lost. Please let me know if you find it!)
13. Raised planter trellis for vegetables
A free standing wood or metal garden trellis planter is an effective way to create a patio and garden screen with climbing plants or dress up a blank wall. ( Source: Seattle Urban Farm )
14. Wall trellis ideas
Wall trellis is a great feature to decorate a blank garden wall with flowers and vines. This can also be a great garden screen trellis to provide privacy for a patio, porch, or backyard, while growing some beautiful fragrant flowering vines such as jasmine and honeysuckles. ( Source: Homes to Love )
15. Arched plant trellis ideas
You can also make an arch plant trellis from branches and short rebars or wood dowels. Beans and gourds are great plants for an arched trellis! ( Source: This Old House )
16. Beautiful plant trellis for vegetable gardens
Runner Beans trained over metal arbor leading to focal point of large classic earthenware jar. An arch is a classic trellis design that is both beautiful and functional. Via Garden Design
17. Garden gate pergola
A tunnel type arched trellis is amazing, especially when there are delicious fruits, veggies and pretty flowers hanging from it. Scarlet runner bean is one of the most beautiful climbers in an edible garden. ( Source: Sunset )
18. DIY Squash arch
This DIY squash arch can be a beautiful functional trellis in a vegetable garden.
19. Obelisk style wood garden trellis
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. It is a classic type of garden structure that adds elegance to a garden. ( Source: 16
20. Farmhouse country style wood trellis obelisk ideas
You can make really beautiful free standing obelisk style trellises from 1x2s and 2x2s. Tutorial at She Holds Dearly.
21. Vertical planter trellis
Love this Strawberry wood trellis planter by Elle Ogden .
22. Traditional kitchen garden trellis ideas
Before people had power tools, they made incredibly beautiful garden trellises like these using flexible branches from Willow or other native trees. ( Source: Tim Gainey )
23. Timeless inspirations: willow garden trellis and bench
This gorgeous woven bench and trellis is so magical. ( Source: Charlotte Moss )
There are so much you could create with plants! Here are 12 amazing LIVING structures to create!
24. Ladder plant trellis ideas
In small space gardens, we can grow herbs and vegetables with planters attached to a sturdy frame lattice panel that leans on any vertical surface. ( Source: BHG )
Related: 16 inspiring ladder hacks for every room.
Oh, I almost forgot this one! A DIY grape arbor / pergola with free building plan and lots of details!
Happy growing! See you next week!
Hi! I have an idea. Do you have time to give it a think?
I have a heavy, expensive patio umbrella stand.
I have a patio umbrella I don’t need now that I have a porch (Yay!) and no room for it in my teeny yard.
I have a small area at the back of my carport that could be a cute potting area with a rocking chair and plant stand/ coffee cup table.
Lastly, I have new plastic garbage can lids. (Leftover from painting garbage cans to be fruit tree planters.)
What if I cut off the umbrella leaving only the pole …
Ran the pole through a garbage can lid …
Ran the pole down into the umbrella stand …
Glued or screwed or whatever the lid to make it not tippy …
Hung hooks from the top of the severed pole to hang plants.
Dumb or Doable?
… and what’s a good use for the top of a patio umbrella?
I value your opinion! Just love your blog: not only the excellent ideas, but its clean, refreshing look and vibe. THANKS!
hi lila! thank you for your kind words! 🙂 your idea is possible, i totally understand how fun it is to explore these things! however, most poles for hanging plants have spikes that go into the soil, or need very strong base. i am not sure the lid would be enough to support it. a plant stand like this design is more suitable for a patio- https://amzn.to/3hDj0DT. the top of an umbrella could be made into outdoor cushion, table or grill covers! 🙂
Hi Lila,
I suppose you have tossed your patio umbrella by now, or have already figured out a design. I was wondering if you couldn’t just remove the cloth and use the umbrella ribs as a trellis for a lightweight vine like Morning Glory.
Anyway, your question has me brainstorming for ideas. I’ll be on the lookout for “throw away” patio umbrellas.
Such great ideas! We are busy building trellises for our vegetables and flower plants to save growing space this year!
I love all of these ideas, especially for heavier food and veges. My cucumbers this year were massive and weren’t very well supported by my regular set-up. I end up with a ton of perfect branches and sticks from cutting up firewood and am keen to try this out next season.
we are busy building trellises right now for the same reason! 🙂
These are some great DIY trellis structure ideas! We are getting our garden ready for spring. Will be busy building some of these!
Hey, thank you for the effort in sharing your good thoughts about garden trellis ideas!
Wow! fantastic ideas, fits for a small garden that I have in my landscape design and back yard. Thank you for the post.
These trellis ideas are so helpful! We are going to make some before spring planting season!
I am new to this so I don’t know what I am doing. But I am so in love with the arch or trellis #15. I would like to find the directions and list of supplies needed, is that possible?
hi Joyce! willow branches would be the best materials to make this. 🙂 there are several good resources listed here- https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/10-amazing-living-structures/
Muito boas as sugestões!!!
Love your blogs. Your stuff is worth sharing. Keep up the good work!
Wow! There is some great ideas covered in this post thanks for sharing it 🙂 The teepee trellis is defineitely on my to do list.
Great DIY trellis ideas! We made the teepees, and they turned out great!
Muitos parabéns aos génios e pensadores destas culturas de hortas e plantas de ornamentação,o que inspira variadÃssimas iniciativas pelo Mundo fora.
Com os melhores cumprimentos.
AJsitoe
How long do they usually last? Wouldn’t mind setting a few up on my garden at home.
I am going to try a trellis for cherry and grape tomatoes. I thought about it last summer, while I picked tomatoes off of the ground. I had a good crop so that made things tougher.
hi dan, that sounds like a great idea! tag us on instagram when you have pictures of them 🙂
It’s amazing DIY ideas. It’s nice to see it. I learned a lot from it. Thanks for sharing this.
I am living for these DIY garden trellis! They all look so amazing, I’m itching to build them all one at a time! 🙂
This is a very great DIY idea. Thanks for this! Such a great blog
Lots of beautiful ideas! These all look AMAZING! Keep up the good work. All the best. 🙂
All of them are so amazing! This is why I want to live in the rural when I get older 😀 Thank you for sharing!
So many fab ideas, I passed an arbor at the thrift shop the other day ouch I want it now. Definatley going to implement a few ideas out the front and backyard, brilliant post as usual
thank you petra! those regrets happen to me too! =)
I plan to try two new trellis ideas for my beautiful passion vines this summer.
First a dead potted ficus tree that froze this winter. It’s big enough to make an umbrella shaped
trellis for a vine. The pot should be large enough to add the vine and still keep the tree roots in tact to support it.
Second…an old wooden ladder. I think it would be lovely covered with beautiful blooming vines.
Sort of a small teepee.
Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas and photos. You inspire me.
some great fun ideas Janie! thank you so much for sharing! =)
bamboo is great stuff,but be careful that its dried or cured. If green it can take root!
thank you so much tessa for sharing this info! =)
So beautifulll some ideas simple to create…I love teepies…
It is your garden Ananda?
Thank’sd take care of you…
not my garden YET, but lots of these will be in my garden soon! xoxo
Ananda, this post is awesome! – these ideas are not only beautiful, they are motivational!! I’d like to put different ones all over my property. If only I could get my produce to grow and produce as in these pictures depict!! Thank you!! ??
thank you ann! with you ultra green thumb i am sure your trellises will be stunning! =) xo
These are all great ideas, I really love the teepee and the bamboo trellis! I will be trying those out ?
These are beautiful ideas! I am always looking for pretty ways to get my garden vertical.
These are so cool! I’ve always wanted to have a secret garden style backyard. Magical!
My favorite are the teepees!!! I would really want to take on that task!
OMG I love the idea of the trellis teepee big enough for the kids to play in! I think I will make something like that in my yard this year and give my kids a place to play in the shade while i pull weeds!
We do the bamboo trellis every year! In fact, we’ll probably be planting our own bamboo soon so we always have that resource on hand! 🙂
You know, of course, that many types of bamboo can be extremely invasive…?
You know, of course, that the bamboo used for the trellises is already dead.
Liz, that reply was in regard to the posted comment re: the intention of growing bamboo in order to have that resource always available.
All of these trellis are beautiful. I have grown the gourds and they look wonderful hanging down. Love the teepee idea for the kids.
Fantastic ideas, I wish my garden was bigger so I could try some of the larger ones. Thank you for the post.