How to Build Simple Garden Trellises between Raised Beds

In today’s post, I’m sharing how to build simple garden trellises between raised beds. I love the look of trellises in the garden, and I love them even more when they are covered with flowering vines.

Bill has six trellises between his raised beds in the vegetable garden. And he has grown flowering vines on them for a dozen years or so. I have always loved how the vines fully covered Bill’s trellises by the end of each growing season.

And when we decided to build my cut flower garden, I knew that I wanted to add trellises between my raised beds, as well.

Deciding to Add Trellises to My Garden

When I decided to start growing cut flowers, we kept it simple. No hardscaping or permanent structures, just old-fashioned gardening in a plot of soil. My first year of growing flowers served as an opportunity for me to decide how much space I wanted to care for and how committed I was to taking care of a garden.

Learn more about my first cut flower garden here.

Planning Trellises for My New Flower Garden

Quickly after my first cut flower garden faded, I knew I was ready to commit to growing flowers annually and began designing my new flower garden.

I decided to keep the garden about the same size as my original cut flower garden, but knew I wanted to add some interest with hardscaping. My knees were also begging for raised beds that would require a little less bending to sow seeds and weed.

My design included: 1. six raised beds (4′ x 12′) with edges that I could sit on, 2. three trellises (the focus of today’s post), and 3. a brick path under each of the trellises.

After reviewing the plans, Bill agreed to take the lead and bring my design to life. I was thrilled!

After building the raised beds (details coming soon), we added three trellises and then laid the brick path between each of the trellises. My garden was now ready to be planted with lots of flowers and flowering vines.

How to Build Simple Garden Trellises between Raised Beds

Materials Needed for Garden Trellises

Garden trellises are a quick project…much quicker than building the raised beds or creating a brick path.

To build the trellises, you only need a few materials including livestock panels (1 per trellis), fence posts (2 per trellis), wire, fence staples and a few tools (including a post driver, wire cutters and hammer).

The trellis itself is made out of 16’ galvanized fence panels typically used for hogs or cattle. You’ll find the panels at your local farm supply store (typically stacked in the outside yard).

Building Simple Garden Trellises in 5 Easy Steps

1. You will use two raised beds to brace each of the trellises you are adding to your space. When building your raised beds, be sure to position them so that the spacing will accommodate a trellis. We allowed for a 4′ wide area under each trellis.
2. To get started, drive 2 fence posts (using a post driver) into the outer back corners of the raised beds where you will be adding each of the trellises.
3. Position the trellis between the two beds by bending the livestock panel. A second person is very helpful when bending and positioning the panel.
4. Secure each trellis with wire by connecting the fence panel to each of the fence posts.
5. For additional stability, hammer in fence staples to secure the garden trellises to the raised beds.

Choosing Vines for the Garden Trellises

Now the fun begins…deciding what to plan on your trellises. I love flowering vines on our trellises. Bill has planted lots of different vines on the trellises in our vegetable garden. His favorites include thunbergia, cardinal climber, hyacinth bean and morning glories.

Split-Second Morning Glories

My favorite has always been morning glories, so as soon as the new trellises were completed, I began searching for different varieties. I soon discovered split-second morning glories and decided to order seeds for my new trellises.

Split-second morning glories are a beautiful shade of pink. The flowers are fully double and petals are so frilly. I find them very charming.

The vines will climb up to 12 feet and with 5-6 plants on each side of a four-foot-wide trellis, you can create a beautiful arch of dreamy cottage-like flowers.

Basic Growing/Ordering Information:

• Plant in full sun/part sun
• Seeds can be sowed outside directly into the soil after your last frost
• Sow seeds 1/4″ to 1/2″ deep
• Seeds should sprout in 5-21 days depending upon soil conditions
• Available online at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

A Final Note

Have fun building garden trellises for your garden. Not only are they easy to build, but they’re beautiful covered in flowering vines. But you’ll have to very patient. Vines typically don’t take over the trellises until late in the season.

In the meantime, the garden trellises provide a great spot to hang a basket of colorful Wave Petunias, one of my favorite annuals.

Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!

X Penny Pennington Weeks

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