A free standing garden trellis or flat trellis added to a wall will add growing space, artistic design and pattern to your small backyard design projects.
photo credit: greengardenvienna
Bentwood trellises are also fun to make and if you have smaller brush on your property you will have a free supply of material to use. If you don’t have small brush, ask you neighbors. They may have a small overgrown area of property that they would gladly let you trim.
On my property I have a nice supply of hickory, apple (better for small projects), willow and pine. The area needs cleared so I have no problems using the live branches for arbors, arched trellises and flat trellises.
This you tube will give you an idea of how to do make a trellis. I will add the best time for using branches is in the spring before the sap in the wood rises. You can use the branches after spring but it will be best to apply glue where you nail. The reason is that after sap is in the wood the wood will expand. After the wood is cut it will dry and the nail will not be as secure. You can stop this problem with a little glue where you nailed.
Bentwood trellises are fun and easy to make. They make a great family project and are very reasonable to make. And the best reason to make a bentwood trellis is that they add to you garden art and accessories and being handmade you can tailor the size and shape to any location you have. They are perfect for the small balcony garden that needs to utilize every inch of space to its fullest potential.
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I have a small but very full backyard that has sculpted areas, two large arbors for growing vines etc., but I would like to find enough branches to build three sturdy (with four corners) trellises/arbors. We don’t have that in Florida and need some more info from you please. Marie A. Bush Smithey
Any wood branches that bend can be used. Willow and pine are the first that come to mind that I know grow in Fla. There are other that can be used, hickory and apple are used a lot and you should have those trees in FLA in limited amounts.
What I would suggest is to call a tree pruning or tree company in your area and see what trees they are cutting and if they have suggestions for branches that would bend.
Many times you can get branches from these companies for hauling them away. I have also received branches from neighbors and apartment complexes that need to trim trees in the yards. Denise