Most people think of a trellis as a store bought item that is either one of those giant V shaped fan-like objects or a square box of lattice work. So why does it have to be that way exactly? Is it because you think that there are no other options out there? Well, think again!! Doc is going to lead you down the garden path and show you all sorts of surprising trellis options, picked fresh from the local dump, thrift store or yard sale. Yes, readers, you did hear me right. Your next trellis is truly coming from a garbage can but I promise that your neighbors will never be able to guess it in a million years. First let’s start with what discarded items make great potential trellis material.
Do you remember those old metal shelving units from the 1980s? They were most often brass and came in sections that you had to assemble yourself. The sides consisted of swirled metal shapes reminiscent of old fashioned trellises. The sides of these bookcases, once disassembled from the shelves, make perfect trellises. Better yet they can often be found in the trash for free or at yard sales for cheap. The one I purchased for my garden cost a mere $1 and produces 2 beautiful trellises. To freshen them up a bit I’m adding black stove paint to them. Stove paint is extremely durable and gives the trellis a nice wrought iron look. However, you can try other paints such as hammered metal paints in copper and wrought iron looks as well. Once the shelves are removed and the sides are painted to your liking dig holes in the ground to accommodate each leg of the new trellis. Fill each hole with a quick dry cement and insert the trellis legs into the cement. When working with metal against cement make sure to use a cement that contains no chlorides as this can rust out the metal legs over time, causing the weight of your mature vines to tip the trellis over.
Other great trellis items are old windows and French doors which are missing their glass or missing a portion of their glass. In very rough shape these can be found at the dump free or in a friend’s junk pile in their back yard. If the door or windows have pealing paint and you love that look, simply apply four coats of a clear marine grade polyurethane to them. This will seal in the weathered look without allowing the trellis to deteriorate any further. If you don’t like this look then purchase a strong stripper and strip the weathered paint away. Just keep in mind that old paint can contain lead. Lead is best removed with a stripper as you wont produce dry dust. However, if you taste a sweet taste in your mouth, discontinue your work and toss the piece you were working on. A sweet taste in the mouth is a sure indicator of lead based paint. To remove the paint even faster use a steal wool pad with the stripper. If the old window or door contains some glass remove it by placing a rag around your hammer head and using a rubber band to hold it in place. Now you can safely knock out the glass without getting hurt as the rag keeps the glass from bouncing up at you as badly. Always remember to wear safety glasses and gloves as well. Once the glass is knocked out and the unit is cleaned up use metal braces, found at your local hardware store, to attach two windows together for a taller trellis. Just make sure the braces, which resemble flat bars of metal with holes in each end, are attached at each corner of the windows on both the back and front of the windows for stability. Once all the prep work is done paint the piece to your liking and add pressure treated legs to the bottom of the piece. Place the legs into a hole filled with cement and allow to dry in place. For a fun metal look try using metallic paints or hammered metal paints.
Next is your typical old wooden ladder. Take two of these and wire the tops together so they form a V shape, similar to a step ladder. Paint to your liking or use a clear marine grade polyurethane to keep the old worn look of the ladder. Dig four holes in the ground and fill with cement. Place the legs of the ladders into the holes so as to create a strong and permanent trellis. Add grapes or other vine type plants for a grand entrance into your garden.
A final trellis suggestion is guaranteed to leave you and your neighbors laughing. This of course would be the flower bed, literally! Simply take an old wrought iron or brass bed headboard and paint it to your liking using a metal paint. Using a cement void of chlorides, fill two holes and then drop the legs of the headboard down into the holes. While the headboard is very fun by itself I have seen people use the entire bed to create a fun “flowerbed” look. For this application simply set up the bed as you would do if you were setting it up to sleep on, minus the mattress of course. Where the mattress would normally go you can plant low to the ground flowers. At the headboard and footboard grow trailing plants that you would normally plant on a regular trellis. There you have it, a real “flowerbed”.
Any other great suggestions of your own or have any questions about trellises? Don’t hesitate to drop Doc a line. I’m always looking for more freebie art to add to my own garden and am always more then happy to help others with their own gardens.
