How to Build an Umbrella Trellis

An old umbrella is more than just junk. Turn it into a garden trellis and, once the flowers of the vines bloom, the umbrella will have cascading blossoms along the ribs. Building an umbrella trellis simply involves preparing the ribs for the plants, and setting the umbrella in the ground. You must secure it upright properly so the weight of the plants does not cause the trellis to topple over.

Scissors
Measuring tape
Post hole digger
No-mix cement
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the fabric off the umbrella top, leaving the ribs intact. Discard the fabric. Adjust the ribs so they point in the direction you want.
- 2
  Measure the length and width of the umbrella pole.
- 3
  Dig a hole in the soil where you want the trellis to go. Make sure the spot gets the appropriate amount of sunlight for whatever plant you want to grow on the trellis. Use a post hole digger, and make the hole three times the width of the pole. Divide the pole's height by 3, and make the hole that deep. For example, if the pole is 6 feet tall, make the hole 2 feet deep.
- 4
  Lower the umbrella into the hole. Fill the hole with no-mix concrete until it is 3 to 4 inches below the ground level. Add water until the concrete is saturated. Let it dry for four hours before planting next to the trellis.

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