How to Make a DIY Garden Trellis

This vertical structure provides support to climbing vines, flowers, and vegetables.

Published on April 13, 2021

finished diy chippendale garden trellis — Photo: Courtesy of Kara Whitten

This idea comes from our friend Kara Whitten of A Kailo Chic Life. Spring is here and it's time to plant all the things. This Chippendale-inspired trellis design will give your vining plants a structure to climb while providing a unique fixture in your garden.

What You'll Need

Materials

Five cedar boards, 8' by 1" by 2" (Home Depot Cedar Boards)
Miter saw
Wood glue
Tape measure
Pencil
Brad nailer (Dewalt 18-Gauge Pneumatic Corded Brad Nailer)
Mending plate, 4" (Everbilt Galvanized Mending Plate)
Screws, 3/4" (Everbilt Flat Head Zinc Plated Wood Screws, 3/4")
White water-based stain

Instructions

Make Cuts

Cuts
Piece	Dimensions	Quantity
Two 48" straight ends
Two 36" straight ends
One 50 3/4" with 45-degree corner on both ends
Two 24" with 45-degree corner on one end
Four 19" with 45-degree angle on one end
Four 12" with 45-degree angle on one end
Four 7 1/2" with 45-degree angle on one end

Begin by cutting the cedar boards into the sizes listed in the cut list.
Make the border for your trellis using the 48- and 36-inch cuts. Use wood glue to attach one 36-inch piece between the 48-inch pieces at the top. Measure 37 1/2-inch down from the top of the 48-inch sides. Use wood glue to attach the other 36-inch piece. (Note: This should create a 36-by-36 inch square in the center of the trellis. There should be 9 inches at the bottom of the 48-inch pieces after this step that will act as the stakes that go into the ground.)
Use the brad nailer to reinforce the joints of the frame.
Next, start with the smallest pieces and begin to glue and nail the inner sections for each square quarter. First, glue one 7 1/2-inch piece to the 12-inch piece 4 3/4-inch from the straight end and then nail in place. Then glue the this section to the 19-inch piece 4 3/4-inch from the straight end. Repeat with the other pieces to create a total of four F-shaped sections.
Next, you will create the X-shaped piece for the center of the trellis. Glue and attach the two 24-inch pieces to the center of the 50 3/4-inch section using the mending plate and screws.
Glue and brad nail the F-shaped pieces to the "X" shape 4 3/4 inches from the center around each leg of the "X" shape.
Place the trellis frame around the inner section. Glue and attach each corner to the frame using the brad nailer; let dry overnight.
Stain or paint the trellis as desired and stake it in your garden to house all your vining plants.