You built the fence yourself a few years ago (or more) and, because of your hard work and careful construction, it’s standing the test of time: all the boards are intact and the posts haven’t shifted at all. (Thank goodness you decided to dig down that extra foot for the postholes!) But you are starting to feel the fence needs a facelift. It needs a little something to make it look newer than it really is, or something to make it stand out from your neighbours’ fences that are all exactly the same as yours.
A fence trellis is a great addition to your backyard’s scenery—especially in a yard that doesn’t have a lot of room for a traditional garden. It is a simple project that can add a lot of visual value in return, for only a few hours of work. All you need is one weekend and a few supplies from your home-improvement store to succeed.
Download the fully illustrated trellis plans here!
This trellis project was built in a yard that has a large pool taking up most of the real estate. The homeowner wanted a place to grow climbing plants, as well as provide a focal point beyond the pool.
A fence trellis can do more for your yard besides enhance your gardening potential. If your fence was built with staggered boards that reduce your privacy, you can hide the view of neigbours with a tall trellis.
If you are starting a new fence project, you may also want to consider adding such an element to your plans.
Designing a fence trellis
Constructing and installing a fence trellis is a great way to spend a weekend. But before you begin, you need to devise a plan of attack.
When building your own fence trellis, you can follow the plans exactly as they are shown or try your hand at designing your own structure.
Take cues from the architecture around your home and your yard. Does your roof have a unique slope? Or does your deck railing have an interesting profile? These are great places to take inspiration for the shape or curve of the stringer that goes between the two uprights.
A fence isn’t the only place a trellis can elevate the look of your garden; you can also build it up on the side of a deck railing. Some houses have high decks that look directly into neighbouring backyards. (And if you can see into your neighbours’ yard, they can certainly see into yours.) Others live in subdivisions where the houses are quite close together, making the space between these high decks very small. A trellis attached to a deck railing can provide a perfect visual barrier, especially when you add climbing vines and plants to it. (Your neighbour may even thank you for it.)
When putting together your plans for your fence trellis, you need to decide what materials you will use. Off-the-shelf, pressure-treated decking lumber was used for this project. Cedar is a great option as well. Your best bet is to pick the same material used to build your fence.
After you build your fence trellis, you need to decide how to adorn it. Some will just leave it as is, with no greenery to cover their handiwork. Others will want to find the perfect plant to climb its way up and around the structure. There are some easy-to-find plants that will grow quickly and provide a great deal of coverage. Honeysuckle, grapevines and Virginia creeper require little maintenance and grow quickly. If your trellis is located in a shady spot, you should consider ivy or winter jasmine. If you aren’t sure, visit a garden centre for advice.
Now that you have the design, materials and plants for your trellis worked out, it’s time to get in the shop and make some sawdust.
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