How to Build a Fan-Shaped Wood Lattice for Climbing Flowers

Rip nine to 12 strips from one or two pieces of 1-by-4-inch lumber using a table saw. Each strip should measure about 3/4 inches thick. Take the 3/4-inch strip cut from the center of the lumber piece, and put it aside. The center strip has stronger wood and will serve as the lattice stake.

Cut one of the other 3/4-inch strips into three or more pieces for your cross slats. Number and length of pieces depend on how large you want the lattice.

Take the 3/4-inch center strip you set aside earlier. Cut it into six equal pieces for your frame. Their length depends on the lumber length and how large you want the lattice to measure.

Create the lattice frame. Make a center stake by placing two of the pieces cut from the 3/4-inch strip next to one another. Clamp, glue and screw down the length of the pieces using 1 1/4-inch screws.

Place the four long slats left on either side of the center stake, two on each side. The piece bases should butt directly next to one another, the pieces spreading out to make a fan shape. Clamp and bolt the bottom of the pieces to the bottom of the center stake using two to four machine bolts and washers.

Insert the top crosspiece, carefully flexing the outside slats to fan out and meet at the edge of the crosspiece. Clamp each side in place. Glue and screw the crosspiece in place to the center stake and inside and perimeter slats, using 1 1/4-inch wood screws. Check the piece is straight with a square.

Attach the next crosspiece down, measuring to ensure equal spacing between each crosspiece, depending on the lattice size. For instance, if the measurement from the bottom of the top crosspiece to the point at the bottom where the frame slats open up is 4 feet long, and you have three more crosspieces, install the second crosspiece 1 1/3 feet down from the top one, and install the next cross slat 1 1/3 feet down from that one, until you install all three cross slats. Clamp, glue and screw each crosspiece to the center stake and two outside slats as you go. Check that each piece is square before moving on.

Install your lattice in a planter or in the ground, digging a hole up to the first crosspiece and packing the dirt around it to stabilize it.