How to Paint Plastic Trellises

Remove the plastic trellis from the ground or other surface.

Lay a tarp on the ground or in a garage, and place the plastic trellis on it. Apply 1 to 2 tablespoons of a general-purpose cleaner with ammonia to a cloth, and clean the entire front and back of the trellis to remove surface grime. If the trellis is new, use 2 tablespoons of paint thinner instead of an ammonia-based cleaner.

Wipe the trellis with a clean cloth to dry it, or let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes to allow all moisture to evaporate from the surface.

Sand the front and back of the plastic trellis with a fine-grit sandpaper, such as 220, just to roughen the surface. Wipe off all surface dust with a tack cloth.

Shake a can of spray paint designed specifically for plastic. Holding the can 12 inches from the surface, spray the plastic trellis with side-to-side motions.

Move so you are parallel to the direction of the first spray, and apply a second coat of paint in the same manner to cover any spots you missed during the first application.

Wait until the paint is completely dry, which takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour, then flip the plastic trellis over, and apply two more coats of paint to the opposite side.

Wait until the paint dries completely on the second side of the trellis, then reinstall it in its proper location.