Build a garden trellis for your climbers

Obelisks are easy to build if your design is right. I've used proportions that eliminate the need to cut confusing compound mitres, while still yielding a terrific finished product for your yard or garden. This obelisk has two main sections. It has a planter box on the bottom, and a tall, thin pyramid-shaped frame up above, which gives you a place to start plants and provides room for them to grow upward. Before you start building, think about what materials you'll use.

When it comes to outdoor projects, you need to decide between pressure-treated lumber or cedar. The difference concerns more than just cost and aesthetics.

Pressure-treated stock is less expensive than cedar, and that's why people use it. But it's also more challenging, for two reasons. First, it's more likely to twist, bow and cup. And with all the small and narrow parts on this project, temperamental wood will make your job harder. Second, pressure-treated wood is also more likely to split when you add nails or screws. Then there's the issue of corrosion. Although you need to use corrosion-resistant screws and nails with either type of wood, the new formulations of preservative chemicals found in pressure-treated lumber require stainless-steel screws and nails for best results. These days, pressure-treated is much more corrosive than cedar. The bottom line is: if you can afford it, go with cedar for this project.

Download the project plans for the garden trellis here!