Wood Trellis Structures

Purpose

• Vines, many vegetables and some species of flowering plants possess no ability to self-support as they grow. In the wild, they will naturally wrap around or use tendrils to attach themselves to any available structure as a means of staying upright. In a garden environment, almost any raised framework composed of a suitable material will suffice to hold up plants. The ultimate aim of any such architecture is to assist the natural growth processes of photosynthesis, irrigation and air circulation by keeping plants from just ground level.

Styles

• Pergolas, rose arbors and grape vine trellises are all examples of fixed structures designed for the purpose of providing support for climbing plants. The design and styling of these are almost limitless. Latticework frames and trellises affixed to walls are again commonly used systems for plant-growing aids. Perhaps the simplest style is the basic pyramid or wigwam shape often used for climbing beans and other vegetable crops.

Materials

• In garden features like pergolas and arbors, the natural beauty of a quality hardwood enhances the aesthetic appeal of these larger wood trellis structures. Hardwood is often the material of choice because these naturally dense woods are generally long-lasting. The many varieties of softwoods offer a versatile and cheaper alternative that with style and good finish can still be attractive. Softwoods having undergone the injection of preservative under high pressure will have a longer lifespan when used in a garden environment. Bamboo and willow canes are inexpensive, widely used materials especially for basic fruit or vegetable trellis usage.

Considerations

• There are a great many styles and designs of wood trellis structures. Often, the intended purpose determines the design that can be used for plant support, privacy screening, property boundary definition or to divide garden areas. The quality of the material used and the intricacy of the design can sometimes be more of a determining factor of cost rather than the actual size of the structure itself.