Buying guide for best trellises
Trellises are a simple, elegant way to add interest to your garden or outdoor space. Ideal for climbing plants, a trellis covered in flowering vines can even provide extra privacy for your backyard oasis.
But a quick internet search will bring back hundreds, if not thousands, of different trellises. With so many to choose from, finding the right trellis for your garden can feel overwhelming. You’ll need to find the right style, material, and size, not to mention price.
At BestReviews, we’re here to help. Our goal is to simplify shopping with our information-packed guides and product testing. For everything you need to know about trellises before you buy, just keep reading.
Benefits of trellises
Trellises are garden structures with an open framework or lattice for climbing plants to attach to and grow up. They are ideal for anyone who wants to grow climbing plants, of course, but they have a range of other benefits.
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A trellis that’s taller than your fence or wall can help screen your yard.
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You can use a trellis to create a partition in your yard to make a separate patio area or vegetable garden.
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Some vegetables and fruits require trellises or other frames to climb up.
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A trellis can be an eye-catching decorative feature in your garden or yard.
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If you have a small yard, growing plants upward on a trellis is an excellent space-saving method.
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A dense plant on a trellis can provide shade to your yard.
Did you know?
If you need multiple trellises, you can sometimes buy bundles of two or more, which is usually more economic than buying the trellises separately.
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Types of trellises
Leaning trellises
Leaning trellises are designed to lean against a wall, fence, or other structure. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and materials. Leaning trellises are generally the easiest type to install, since they don’t need to be staked deep into the ground to stand up.
Freestanding trellises
Choose a freestanding trellis if you want the trellis to stand up independently, without any structure to support it. You can find flat freestanding trellises, as well as those in three-dimensional shapes. The latter won’t need as much staking to firmly secure the trellis in a freestanding position.
Archway trellises
An archway trellis forms a freestanding archway, which allows you to create a stunning flowering arch. This type of trellis is more commonly known as an arbor. It can take a while to grow plants all the way over an arbor, but it’s well worth the wait as the results are breathtaking.
Planter trellises
If you want to grow climbing plants in a pot or planter, you’ll need a planter trellis. These are compact trellises with two legs that you stake in the ground, leaving the main body of the trellis above ground for the plant in the pot to grow up.
Unconventional trellises
You can also find some unconventional, non-standard trellises, such as trellis netting or trellises designed to cover a downspout.
"Some trellises have larger holes in the lattice than others. The smaller the holes, the less visibility you’ll get through the trellis. Trellises with small openings are best for screening and privacy."
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Features to consider for trellises
Size
Trellises come in a wide range of sizes, from compact models to large panels measuring 9 x 5 feet. To choose an appropriate size, think about where you intend to place your trellis and what plants you want to grow on it. If you’ll be putting your trellis in a tight spot, measure the area to make sure it will fit before you buy.
Material
You can find trellises in a variety of materials, the most common being wood, metal, and vinyl.
Wood is a classic material for trellises. Wood trellises are attractive and have a timeless appeal. However, wood trellises can rot or degrade over time when constantly exposed to the outdoor elements.
Metal trellises are another classic choice. Because it’s easier to bend and mold metal, you can find metal trellises in more ornate designs, whereas wood models tend to come in classic lattice designs. The main issue with metal trellises is that they can rust if they’re not properly coated.
Vinyl is a newer material in the world of trellises. It can be designed to look like wood or metal, but it’s more resistant to the elements and also less expensive. However, vinyl trellises tend to look inexpensive as well. Vinyl is also lightweight, so a vinyl trellis could blow over if it’s not securely anchored.
Color
For a wood trellis, you might want to choose a type of wood or stain that matches any existing fencing or other wood elements in your yard. Many metal trellises are black, to mimic cast iron, but some metal trellises have accents or decorative touches in other colors. Vinyl trellises are often black or gray to mimic metal. Other vinyl trellises come in wood tones with faux grain or in white with faux grain to look like painted wood.
Style
While many trellises are simple lattices, others are much more ornate, especially metal trellises. If your trellis will be completely covered by dense plants, its style won’t be visible and doesn’t really matter. However, if your trellis will be covered with sparser vines, its decorative elements will be on display.
Price
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly trellis, basic planter options start at around $10 to $15, while full-size panel trellises start at $30 to $50. The most expensive trellises cost over $50, including archway trellises and particularly large and sturdy wood trellises.
Expert Tip
If you choose a wood trellis, look for one that’s been treated with a stain or varnish to help protect it from the elements.
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Tips
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Check whether your chosen trellis comes fully assembled. Many trellises need some assembly, and some even require at least two people to get the job done.
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Think about the durability of your chosen trellis. If you want your trellis to last for years to come, it’s worth paying a little more for a rugged model. A long warranty is a good sign that you’re choosing a durable trellis.
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Decide what you’ll be growing on your trellis. If you want to grow a very heavy or dense plant, you will need a heavy-duty trellis to support it.
- Consider the best time to erect your trellis. It can be difficult to stake a trellis into hard ground, so wait until after it’s rained to put up your trellis. Also, the ground tends to be softer in the warmer months rather than the winter.
FAQ
Q. What kinds of plants can I grow up a trellis?
A. You can grow a wide range of flowers, fruits, and vegetables on trellises. However, unless you’re willing to tie the plants manually, they should be climbing plants. These are just some of the plants that grow well on trellises: honeysuckle, clematis, peas and sweet peas, morning glories, nasturtiums, jasmine, cucumbers, summer and winter squash, pole beans, melons, grapes, and hops.
Q. Can I create a fence or partition using trellises?
A. Trellises are an excellent alternative to traditional fencing, whether you want to create a border fence around your property or simply a partition to separate areas in your yard. Some panel trellises are even designed to slot into one another to create stretches of fencing. Not only are trellises often cheaper and easier to erect than traditional fences, you can also create a beautiful flowering fence with trellises. If you do decide to make a fence out of trellises, choose a dense plant that won’t lose too much of its foliage during winter to grow on the trellises, otherwise your yard will lack privacy.
Q. Can trellises stand up to high winds?
A. If you’re in an area where you regularly get high winds, you might be worried about buying a trellis. Although you should select a trellis carefully, don’t let high winds put you off. Choose a heavy-duty trellis to stand up to the elements. Cheap wood trellises can be flimsy, so look for a trellis made from thicker wood or consider metal options. Since vinyl trellises are lightweight, they tend to blow over easily in windy conditions. To secure your trellis, either stake it deeply into the ground, or anchor it to a sturdy fence, wall, or other structure.
