Snap peas are a springtime favorite in many home gardens—and they thrive with the right support. That’s why we decided to build a folding trellis that not only helps peas climb happily but also collapses for easy winter storage.
Designed to stretch along your pea row and shrink away when not in use, this trellis is efficient, stylish, and crafted from leftover materials. Ready to get started? Let’s walk through the process step by step.
Why This Trellis Design Works
- Collapsible for Easy Storage – Expands during the growing season and folds up compactly for winter.
- Uses Leftover Materials – Perfect for repurposing scrap wood or lath from remodeling projects.
- Simple to Build – Can be completed in about 1.5 hours with basic tools.
- Customizable Dimensions – Adapt it to fit your garden and available materials.
- Stylish and Functional – The lattice not only supports peas but adds aesthetic appeal.
What You Will Need
- 14 pieces of lath: 10 (4 ft lengths), 2 (3 ft lengths), plus additional scraps for legs
- Screws, washers, and bolts (or nails/twine if improvising)
- Saw and drill for cutting and pre-drilling holes
- Measuring tape and pencil
- Optional: spacer materials (small wooden blocks or nuts)
How to Make a Folding Snap Pea Trellis
Step 1: Build the Legs
Cut four 4-foot lengths of lath for the vertical legs. Sandwich small scraps of lath between each pair, ensuring a 6-inch gap from 17 to 23 inches up from the bottom to allow sliding.
Next, create a 2-foot base and an 18-inch diagonal support for each leg. Screw together the vertical pieces, base, and diagonal support. Trim any diagonal edges sticking beyond the vertical leg to prevent snagging.
Finally, pre-drill a hole at 3 feet 6 inches from the bottom of each leg for the top lattice connection point.
Step 2: Construct the Lattice
Using your 10 (4-foot) and 2 (3-foot) lath pieces, drill holes 6 inches from each end and every 12 inches along the length.
Join the laths where they intersect to form a crisscross lattice. To allow movement, pre-drill half the laths for screws to turn freely and the other half smaller so screws grip. Secure them with machine screws, nuts and bolts, or even bent nails if you’re improvising.
Lay half the laths angled right (bottom layer) and half angled left (top layer). Align and connect them at intersections.
Step 3: Attach the Lattice to the Legs
Screw the upper lattice points to the pre-drilled holes on the legs using washers. A spacer (small nut or block) at one top and one bottom connection may help keep layers aligned.
For the lower attachment, use a bolt secured loosely to allow the lattice to slide as the trellis expands. To improve sliding, consider placing a nut between the lattice and the leg, preventing wobble and locking.
Ensure the lattice is attached to the face of the leg that avoids contact with the diagonal brace.
Step 4: Finish and Enjoy!
Once everything is assembled, expand your trellis along your pea row. The collapsible design allows you to easily adjust its length and pack it away in the offseason.
Note: Adjust and test your hardware for the smoothest expansion. Simple tweaks like spacers or different nuts can improve functionality.
Other Details Display
- Trellis Dimensions: 4 feet tall × 8 feet long (when extended)
- Construction Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
- Primary Materials: Lath wood, screws/bolts, washers
- Tools Used: Drill, saw, measuring tape
- Storage Feature: Collapses for compact storage
- Support Style: Lattice allows vertical climbing
- Custom Modifications: Adaptable to materials and plant type
- Estimated Cost: Minimal (uses repurposed materials)
Summary
This folding snap pea trellis is a practical and attractive solution for supporting your spring garden peas. Built from repurposed materials, it’s collapsible for easy storage and customizable to your needs—making it the ideal garden companion for the season.
Let me know if you want images or diagrams labeled for each step!
This plan is a contribution by [haakon.k]. Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.
