How To Build A Garden Trellis Without Buying New Materials

If you're growing vines ranging from tasty climbing beans to elegant clematis flowers, a trellis is an essential garden feature. Not only does the handy structure keep these climbing plants off the ground, but it also helps to add vertical interest to your garden and yard. While store-bought trellises can get expensive depending on the type you opt for, there's a good chance you already have everything you need in the back of your garage or shed to create a trellis. If you have any older brooms or other tools that have broken, leaving only their long handles – or even some long-handled tools that are technically still functional but which you no longer use – then you have the perfect building materials for a trellis. Now, instead of trash, these items can be garden treasure. 

From keeping your flowers and vegetables that grow on vines off the ground (reducing their risk of disease) to helping to maximize your space, trellises can be a lifesaver in the garden. Making your own basic trellis from old long-handled tools as the vertical support structure, and rope, wire, or twine as the horizontal supports, is a perfect way to give your climbing plants the structure they need without spending a penny. You could even use an old hose on your trellis instead of rope or wire. 

There are a few different ways to construct a trellis, and what option will work best for your garden depends not only on your personal preference but also on the materials you have available and the types of crops you're growing. While it likely isn't realistic to create an arched trellis using only old tools, a simple teepee or a basic V-shaped trellis can both make good options.

In the case of a teepee style trellis, you may not even need to use wire or string if you are growing beans up the trellis. Simply stand your tools up in a circle in the spot you want your trellis and allow them to lean against each other so their tops overlap and hold each other up. If you prefer, you can also lash them together at the top for some extra stability.

A V-shaped trellis can be made using three tools and can be leaned against a wall or other support. The metal part of the tools will point up, with the longest one in the middle. They will slightly fan out from the center to give the trellis its namesake. To create this one, you'll want to make sure the horizontal lattice is in place. This can be accomplished by either wrapping your wire or twine around the tools to help create the V-shape or by using scrap wood to create the cross bars that hold the tools together.