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A garden trellis is a practical addition to any yard or garden, providing climbing plants and flowers with a supportive structure while safeguarding your house's siding from damage. Moreover, it adds visual appeal to your landscape, especially when plants are dormant. Here's how to install a garden trellis.
Steps
Position the trellis 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) away from the house. This distance allows easy access to the back of the trellis for pruning and maintenance while ensuring proper airflow for the plants on the trellis.
Determine the spacing between the uprights of the trellis and mark their positions on the ground.
Use a posthole digger to excavate holes for the posts of a wooden trellis. Ensure that the holes are dug deep enough to surpass the frost line in the ground.
Fill the excavated post holes with 6 inches (15 cm) of 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) gravel. The gravel will serve as drainage. Compact the gravel firmly into the holes.
Position your trellis flat on the ground with its face down. Align the base of its vertical posts with the locations of your dug postholes.
Raise and angle the trellis into its designated position. Enlist the assistance of at least one other person for this task.
Check the alignment of the trellis by placing a level on its bottom edge. Ensure that it is perfectly horizontal, adding more gravel if needed to achieve a level surface.
Ensure that the trellis is perfectly vertical.
Secure the trellis in place. Attach 2-inch deep by 4-inch wide (5 by 10 cm) boards to the sides of the trellis. Drill holes and fasten the boards securely to the trellis structure.
Complete filling the remaining space in the post holes. Utilize a blend of soil and gravel for this purpose. Compact the soil and gravel every 6 inches (15 cm) as you fill the holes.
Add soil dug from the excavation to fill the last few inches (cm) of space in the holes.
Detach the 2 by 4 inch (5 by 10 cm) boards that were used to support the trellis.
Helpful Tips
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Ensure there's a clearance of 12 inches (30 cm) between the bottom frame of the trellis and the ground.
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Opt for cedar or pressure-treated wood 2 by 4s (5 by 10 cm) based on your wood trellis type.
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Mark the handles of the posthole digger with tape at the required depth for your trellis holes to avoid constant measurement during digging.
Important Warnings
- These installation instructions are specific to wooden trellises. If your trellis is made of a different material, it may necessitate alternative instructions.
Essential Tools and Materials
- Trellis
- Measuring tape
- Tape to mark posthole digger's depth
- Posthole digger
- 50 lb. (22 kg) bags of 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) gravel
- Small hand tamper
- 1 or more assisting humans
- 2-foot (60 cm) level
- Electric drill/screwdriver
- 2 by 4 (5 by 10 cm) boards
- Screws
- Shovel
