Looking for a sturdy, budget-friendly solution to support your climbing plants like peas, beans, or cucumbers?
This DIY trellis is easy to make, highly functional, and designed for seasonal use—allowing for quick disassembly and compact storage during winter.
With materials readily available at local hardware stores and just a few basic tools, we can construct a garden trellis that will serve us season after season.
Why This Trellis Plan Works
- Affordable: Total cost is around $15 using materials from any hardware store.
- Durable: PVC and twine offer strength and longevity.
- Modular Design: Easy to assemble and disassemble for seasonal use.
- Compact Storage: Breaks down into small parts for winter storage.
- Versatile: Ideal for peas, beans, cucumbers, and other climbers.
What You Will Need
All materials are available at most hardware stores:
- Four 10 ft long, ¾ inch diameter PVC pipes
- Four ¾ inch PVC 90° elbows
- Four ¾ inch PVC 3-way elbows
- Two ¾ inch PVC tees
- 80 feet of natural fiber twine
- Tools: hacksaw, drill with ⅜” bit, scissors
Step 1: Acquire and Prepare Materials
Start by purchasing the PVC pipes, connectors, and twine. Ensure you have your tools on hand: a hacksaw for cutting, a drill with a ⅜” bit for hole-making, and scissors for trimming the twine.
Step 2: Cut and Drill PVC Pipes
Use the hacksaw to cut each of the four 10′ PVC pipes into the following lengths:
- One 5-foot section
- One 3-foot section
- One 2-foot section
From two of the 2-foot sections, cut each in half to create four 1-foot pieces.
Note: One 3-foot piece will be extra—set it aside.
Now, take three of the 3-foot pieces and mark them for drilling:
- Start 3 inches from one end, and mark every 6 inches after that for six marks in total.
- At each mark, drill ⅜” holes straight through both sides of the pipe, so the holes align.
Repeat this for all three 3-foot pieces.
Step 3: Assemble the Trellis Frame
Now it’s time to fit everything together:
- Use the four 5-foot pipes as vertical columns.
- Connect the two 2-foot pipes across the bottom using the PVC tees.
- Connect the four 1-foot pipes across the top, using the 3-way elbows at the corners.
- Use the three 3-foot pipes (with drilled holes) to connect the side sections, ensuring the holes are oriented horizontally.
Assembly Note: You can choose to keep the structure slip-fit (not glued) for easy disassembly and compact storage. If you prefer a more rigid and permanent structure, glue the joints—just make sure you have adequate storage space for the full frame.
Next, take the twine:
- Thread it through a hole in one of the bottom 3-foot pipes and secure it with a double knot.
- Pull the twine up and over the top 3-foot pipe, then down to the third 3-foot pipe, allowing a bit of slack.
- Thread it through the holes in the top and third 3-foot pipes.
- Tie a double knot at the end, and trim excess twine.
Repeat this process for each of the six hole sets.
Tip: Ensure twine is taut but not overly tight to maintain plant support without damaging delicate stems.
Step 4: Install and Plant
Place the completed trellis into prepared garden soil in an area with adequate sunlight for your plants. Sow seeds near the base of the trellis on both sides for maximum plant coverage.
As seedlings sprout, gently guide them onto the twine, encouraging vertical growth. The twine will provide the ideal climbing surface for your plants, promoting better air circulation, sunlight exposure, and easier harvesting.
Note: This structure is lightweight and ideal for most climbing plants, but in windy areas, consider anchoring the base for added stability.
Other Details Display (For Image Reference)
- Tools: hacksaw, drill, scissors
- Materials cost: ~$15
- Time to build: 1 hour
- Dimensions: 5 ft tall, 3 ft wide
- Storage: Breaks down into 12 parts + twine
- Twine method: Thread through holes, double knot ends
Summary
This simple garden trellis plan is perfect for any home gardener looking to support climbing plants like peas or beans without spending a lot of money.
Using inexpensive materials and basic tools, we’ve created a durable, modular structure that’s both effective and easy to store. Whether you’re planting in spring or summer, this trellis will serve us well throughout the growing season.
This plan is a contribution by [nckdryr]. Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.
