If you have a backyard space that you want to beautify or turn into a garden paradise, you’ve probably seen all sorts of homemade projects using a trellis. A trellis isn’t just a structure to allow creeping vines to grow into, it can also become a highlighted hotspot within your garden as a decorative accent.
What do I need a trellis for?
There is a whole slew of reasons you want to build a trellis in your garden, and most of them are always the easiest solution to make yourself. By using some garden stakes pounded into the soil, you can wind a roll of cheap twine between two tall stakes so you have a scratch-build trellis for tomato plants and vegetables to climb up and creep through. These aren’t meant to last very long and probably just for that season.
If you’re looking to have something that will last longer and is made from materials that last years, you need to use better building materials. This is where you’ll need to look at more than a few DIY garden trellis tutorials for inspiration. Some homeowners will even go so far as to make these into a combination pergola with trellis walls. This way you get more than just a structure that’s meant to grow flowers and greenery onto.
While there are plenty of ready-to-assemble kits you can buy immediately, these aren’t your typical DIY builds. You can’t make these into a custom design even if you tried, which is what most of us want to get from DIY projects. But making these projects will include some basic tools that you might already have laying around at home or in the garage. So it all starts with a list of essential tools to make the job a lot easier.
What kinds of tools to use
If you don’t have the right tools for making a DIY trellis project, you’ll want to search for these tools that are great for many more DIY projects you can do in and around your home. Only choose a trellis design that includes instructions from start to finish. This way you can double-check your measurements to match what these designs call for.
- Cordless drill
- Cordless handheld jigsaw
- Hammer
- Measuring tape
- Combination pliers with wire nipper
- Sandpaper
- Outdoor wood stain
- Galvanized wood screws
- Paintbrush for wood stain
There aren’t too many tools that you’ll need to build amazing backyard trellis structures, so these are excellent starter tools. If you’re using wood that you buy from the hardware store, they have some pre-built lattice pieces that you can even mix and match so you can combine them together. Depending on your design, you can cut them to the right size and use wood screws to hold them together.
Since these are all outside, be sure to use galvanized or zinc-coated. Stainless steel screws are also good since they don’t rust as easily too. Afterward, you need to paint your trellis with a waterproof stain so the wood doesn’t rot from rain or the elements. Use at least two coats to get the best coverage. After that, all you need to do is minor repair if you see anything getting worn.
Check out our other DIY decor ideas here.
