A rustic trellis is one of most beautiful ways to enhance and create a transitional portal into the garden. The rustic trellis weaves together nature and art, allowing the garden to be more personal and whimsical while still remain practical. A rustic trellis won’t last forever, perhaps only a few years, but this fleeting nature also adds to its charm. Early spring is the ideal time bend thin young saplings or tap branches into a rustic trellis that adds an artful design.
The original plan behind my rustic trellis, (shown above with Ella), was to give structure for the heirloom William Baffin climbing rose and Grandpa Ott morning glories that clamber up and over. For years, I had relied on a bamboo structure, that toppled over each fall from the weight of the plants until my friend John, who is clever with wood, built one for my birthday a few years ago. Here is a link to how he built this rustic trellis.
The trellis shown above is from one of my favorite gardens in Williamstown, MA which is frequently on the Garden Conservancy Open Days tours. This artful trellis serves as the focal point in the garden, adding structure, as well as drama to the overall design. Twigs are nailed together, and pressed into a shape that will last longer than a fragile bent wood trellis, and is conveniently constructed from branches that are simply found around the property.
On a recent visit to Tuckahoe Plantation in Richmond, Virginia this spring, I was impressed by this handsome and sturdy trellis structure, made from local Black Locust. These not only provide stability for tomatoes, beans, and anything that prefers to grow vertically, yet remain lovely during the off-season. Keep looking at ways to build a trellis that will provide your plants structure, and give your kitchen garden a personal touch.
