How to Build a Metal Garden Obelisk

Garden obelisks have form and function that are an asset to the garden. Pyramidal or cylindrical in shape, they serve as sculpture when left to themselves and as a station for climbing plants. They provide a focal point in a garden bed, drawing the eye upward. Obelisks can be made from wood or metal. They can be tall or short and as simple or complex as you wish. Clematis, roses, morning glory and honeysuckle, as well as confederate and yellow jessamine, are a few of the climbing plants that make this structure glorious.
A very simple metal obelisk that you can construct without welding is detailed here. In this plan, the obelisk will stand half as high as the length of the rods you use.

Two 1/4-inch metal rods 72 inches long or longer
One 1/4-inch metal rod 48 to 54 inches long
medium-gauge wire, 20 inches long
snub nose pliers
vise (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Bend one 72-inch rod in half, leaving the center of the bend rounded. The legs should flare out. (Think of a bobby pin with the ends spread out.)
- 2
  Repeat the process in Step 1 with the second 72-inch rod.
- 3
  Position one bent unit on top of the other, forming a cone shape. There should now be four legs spreading out, with about eight inches between each leg. Hint: Take the structure outside and push all four legs into the ground. This will make it easy to keep the obelisk upright until you fasten the two sections together.
- 4
  Lash the two sections together at the top center with wire, where the rounded rods meet. The wire can be removed when the obelisk is completed.
- 5
  Bend a loop into the end of the remaining short rod with the pliers, leaving a gap about 1/2-inch wide. If you have trouble bending the rods, a vise is helpful. Insert the open end of the loop into the junction of the structure and continue bending the rod around the obelisk in a spiral fashion. The spiral will flare away from the cone shape and create a free-form sculptural effect.
- 6
  Remove the lashing wire, if desired. The spiral rod loop should be enough to hold the unit together.

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