Make a Reusable Plant Trellis

Trellises are popular for growing climbing vines like morning glories or pole beans. But the ones sold at garden centers are often expensive. Saplings can be used, but these rot quickly. Using fairly cheap materials, you can make a very sturdy support on your own, and it should last for years.

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:1367_DrilledHole.JPG|thumb]]Drill the holes. Drill a hole in each timber, about 1" from the end. The hole made should be slightly larger than the threaded rod, so that the rod slides through freely.
 * 2) Connect the timbers. Line up the timbers, line up the holes, and push the threaded rod through all three timbers.
 * 3) [[Image:1368_RodThru.JPG|thumb]]Secure the timbers. Put a washer on each end. Thread a nut over each end until the rod protrudes just past the nut. DO NOT thread the nut down tight to the timbers. The timbers should be loose on the rod.
 * 4) Place the trellis in your garden.
 * 5) * [[Image:1369_Apart.JPG|thumb]]Stand up the tripod, and swing the middle timber one way, and the two outside timbers the other way.
 * 6) * [[Image:1370_Upright.JPG|thumb]]Spread the two outside timbers apart, away from each other. The threaded rod will bend a bit.
 * 7) Anchor the trellis. Trellises like this tend to blow over once they are covered with lots of foliage, so they need to be anchored. This can be done in several ways:
 * 8) * Dig holes and bury the ends of the trellis in the ground, preferably at least 1 foot.
 * 9) * Or, hammer three 2' lengths of reinforcing bar ("rebar", available at many building supply centers) into the ground, and wire the trellis legs onto them. Set up the trellis the way you like it, and then hammer the rebar right next to the trellis legs, following their angle into the ground. The legs can then be wired onto the rebar.
 * 10) * Instead of wiring the legs to the rebar, hose clamps can be used to secure the trellis legs to the rebar.
 * 11) [[Image:1371InTheGarden_232.JPG|thumb]]Plant vines around your new trellis.

Tips

 * Instead of threaded rod, a long bolt with a threaded end could be used. But be sure the bolt is long enough so that, when the timbers and the end nut are on it, there's enough free play so that the timbers can move around freely. To get the two outer legs to spread apart enough, you may have to bend the bolt slightly.

Things You'll Need

 * Three 2" x 2" x 8' pressure treated timbers
 * 8" of threaded rod, about 3/16" thick
 * 2 washers to fit the threaded rod
 * 2 nuts to fit the threaded rod
 * Power drill
 * Drill bits

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Wire Vines to Trellises
 * How to Build a Vertical Garden
 * How to Grow Beans and Peas
 * How to Construct a Raised Planting Bed