How to Create a Bent Wood Trellis

Whenever I'm designing elements for my garden, I always keep in mind, that the more natural they are the better they seem to fit in and that's exactly what I did when I created this rustic trellis. But others have taken this idea a step further. Jim Long, author of the book Making Bentwood Arbors and Trellises, explains how to create these artistic garden ornaments.

Jim Long, Author: I find that lots of people can't identify wood so, my rule of thumb is, if it bends use it. And one of the nice things about this project is you don't really have to do very much measuring and the first step is to attach a crosspiece. All I'm going to do is nail through the top piece into the bottom. What I do is kind of establish the arch that looks about the right proportion. There's no measurement again.

Allen: Right.

Jim: Match it with this piece and I like to twist one around the other so it kind of helps hold it in place.

Allen: Sure.

Jim: So this is our basic trellis shape. All of my trellises are built on this foundation.

As you can see, these rustic trellises and arbors can create visual interest simply standing alone in the garden. Or they can be useful supports to plants like this vigorous climbing rose. If you'd like more information on how to make interesting trellises and arbors just check out our website.

From the garden, I'm P. Allen Smith.

Copyright: 2000
P. Allen Smith Gardens
Hortus LTD.

Category:

Howto & Style

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• Allen
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• outdoor
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• gardening
• decor
• trellis
• support

[Sarosh00]

Superb. Artistic and gorgeous and very GREEN !

[ladygrace1023]

Beautiful.

[jude1c9v]

Very cool man, please make more like this one, I love these ideas

[swizzlecheeks]

Steaming the wood first can make it more bendable. See Wood Bending.

[EbolaV1rus]

Fantastic! I have a maple in the back yard that had been cut back to the stump by people who lived here before me. It grows back like a weed, I like it because it provides some nice shade in one corner of my backyard..nice because here in the summer it's not uncommon for it to reach 113 degrees. This is a great way for me to manage my "weed tree" Great idea!