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Trellis on a budget?

8 years ago

I have a few climbers that will need some support, but I can't afford fancy-schmantzy pre-made arbors or trellises, and I don't know how to weld things.

I'm thinking I should be able to rig something sturdy using cattle panels, such as this one, but am not interested in reinventing the wheel. I know it's possible, but my DYI skills are fairly limited. Before I enlist my husband's help, I think it's only fair that I be able to explain what I want, and how to do it.

If any of you have done something similar, or have other suggestions for creating a sturdy, inexpensive trellis, please share. I think it's time for me to work on overcoming my fear of climbers, and "Florence Bowers' Pink Tea", 'Annie Laurie McDowell', and 'Triomphe des Noisettes' all agree...

Photos will be very welcome.

Many thanks,

Virginia

Comments (29)

  • 8 years ago

    How about using rebar? There are alot of threads on the subject, although all the great pictures are no longer there. I have a bunch saved.

    http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1605153/photos-of-roses-on-rebarrusseliana-et-al

    There's one of the threads but there's more!

    Goodluck!

    User thanked Alana8aSC
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Alana, that just might work. At least for some of the roses. I'm not sure that a 10' teepee would be sufficient for "FBPT", however?

    Have you used rebar for your roses? What are the limitations?

    I did look through the archives, but most of the older posts were missing photos, and it really helps to see what I'm aiming for.

    Speaking of climbers, I plan to mail that seedling to you tomorrow, if that's convenient. Would you also like some cuttings of Climbing CB, or is this not a good time for cuttings there?

    Thanks,

    Virginia

  • 8 years ago

    Do you want a freestanding trellis or one on a wall or fence? A friend built me a couple of wooden ones mounted on my garage. He also strung 3 evenly spaced wires & secured them with eye hooks on my fence. It was a lot cheaper than the wooden ones & to me just as effective. I have 2 Reve D'Or on it & they seem happy there, now in their 2nd. year.

    User thanked smithdale1z8pnw
  • 8 years ago

    Wires and eye hooks across a fence works great. Rebar works great too... but is easier to work with if you have a little experience with it.... eye hooks and wires across a fence would be easier to install for a beginners DIY project. :-)

    User thanked Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
  • 8 years ago

    Scroll down on this thread to see my cattle panel trellis in pictures. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4338200/mels-heritage?n=15

    User thanked thonotorose
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    You might want to talk to Mendocino Rose in northern California. She has made both rebar tripods and arches she calls 'wickets', as well as cattle panel trellises. Her wicket directions are described in an article of Old Rose Survivors, the last volume of HRF's Rosa Mundi publication.

    User thanked Rosefolly z5
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I think the rebar tripod will probably work. My husband has worked with rebar before, and I think he can manage that. I do think I might need a larger support for "FBPT", however. Any suggestions?

    Thonotorose, that's very cool the way you used the cattle panel, but I think I'll need something that's freestanding.

    Cori Ann, we do have fencing, but it's fairly short chainlink fencing, and I don't think the siting would work even if we had taller, sturdier fencing.

    Thanks,

    Virginia

  • 8 years ago

    Virginia if the hubbs feels confident building a rebar tripod for your other roses... how about also making 2 of the same rebar tripods for FBPT, but bending them each slightly inward and attaching them at the top to create an arch? The trick (and the math/physics) would be to make sure they are stable enough to support the weight at the top, but there are a lot of different ways you could reinforce it. If you also google “DIY rebar garden arch” you may find a lot of other ideas that you can run by him to see what he feels confident trying out and to give you ideas too. :-)

    User thanked Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    This will show you how to do trellis and there are so many other DIY. Cori Ann ideas got me started to look in obelisk . She inspired me and the garden looks so beautiful. I got easily side trek until I saw this thread. I started to Google again and was not sure how to paste stuff or pics. So here it goes I hope I did it correctly..

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nwedible.com/diy-concrete-mesh-and-rebar-trellis/&ved=0ahUKEwi5hZ_fpqnXAhXDTSYKHW4sAHUQFghPMAo&usg=AOvVaw1e-biUzBOspUMdQO5AXind

    Virginia good luck and please let us know how your project goes Bec is will inspires everyone esp me who is new but learning.

    Jin

    User thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Jin, I like the look of that trellis, and it does seem like it would be big enough and sturdy enough. (I hope.)

    There is so much stuff online that it's hard to evaluate what's worth trying, but that looks like it's do-able, and I mean both inexpensive, and not too difficult.

    Thanks,

    Virginia

  • 8 years ago

    Virginia, I am so glad you started this thread! Love the ideas. I can just come to your place and let your hubby make me one! lol My sweet hubby made me a 10 X 5 (way to big) frame for my cold frame. I bought wire, but he doesn't think it is heavy enough, (naturally, he is a perfectionist while I am all about DIY & make do) I love him dearly (26 + years) but he is NOT one to build or make anything. He pays someone. He has no patience at all and of course he LOVES to oversee the job. I would kill him, but he does it for a living...and at the end of the day your results are top notch. When we built our house in the country, he drove them nuts. (he has been in the building industry for 30 years and knows what he is doing) The ground under the house was so flat and smooth, you could have rolled marbles. Me, I could careless about what you are not going to see! lol I guess that is why God sent him to me...poor fella needed miss laid back in his life.

    User thanked gagalzone8
  • 8 years ago

    Jin thanks for sharing the link. I am so gonna do this!

    User thanked gagalzone8
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    You are welcome but I think getting 2 posts and buying 1 by 2 or 2 by 2 . Nails, screws, ties just put them together. How tall or wide is individual preference . Or even lattice or any recycle wood or even bamboos are strong after all roses will grow and be happy that's all it matters. I try to put a photo that I like in my gallery and I fail so many times how do you paste it? I wrote this like a billion times and have to rewrite..this one is going to cost me big Bec it is going over a patio that covers pool pump. 20-25 feet

    User thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 8 years ago

    I’m wondering how to get a 16F cattle panel home! Even with a full size pickup, how do I do it? Lisa

    User thanked Lisa Adams
  • 8 years ago

    Lisa, here you go:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubKeX3Tacww

    You roll up the panel... 1:45 of the video...

    Virginia

  • 8 years ago

    Lisa, I am laughing! Exact same thoughts here!! I am going to make it my hubbys problem.....

    User thanked gagalzone8
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Wonderful! Thanks, Virginia.

    Haha! I’m definitely going to be bringing a son along with me to pick those things up. I’m glad they’ll roll up, but I don’t want to be the woman in the parking lot trying to wrangle those things into a tube shape. I can just see myself letting go and it springing back open, taking me down in the process:)

    User thanked Lisa Adams
  • 8 years ago

    Yes Virginia, I hate that all the great pictures are gone, I did say it in my post, but they were so helpful. I did show them to my DH before they disappeared so hopefully he'll remember how to do it. I'm sure he will know though, cuz when I showed him the pictures he knew how it was done before reading it. It's great to have a man handy at almost everything. I haven't used the rebar yet but I plan to put some in , in the Spring, or right before Spring.

    Did you already get the seedling mailed? If you haven't I would be thrilled to receive some cutting of Cl CB too! I don't think it's gotten cold enough yet not to try them. We are still in the eighties for daytime high.

    How do you like Florence Bowers' Pink Tea? It's one I've eyed and would love to see pictures of :) hint, hint :)

    Before I forget, I think the rose I have for you could use some more growing, but I wish it was ready, just on account of how unpredictable our winters here are. I think I should be able to winterize it though.

    Best of luck with however you decide to do your roses! We would love to see pictures after you've decided and they have started filling them in.

    User thanked Alana8aSC
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I've been offline for most of the day due to a power outage.

    Comtesse, I'm not sure I'm visualizing your ideas correctly, but it does sound like a more attractive option than just rebar with a hose clamp on top.

    I'll admit I kinda laughed at the notion of this house or garden being "the pretty kind". Nope. 'Rustic' at best.

    Alana, my "FBPT" is still very young, but I think she might be a fast grower so I'm thinking ahead.

    We were unable to leave the neighborhood for most of the day (utility crews blocking the road out), so I will cut some pieces of 'Climbing Cecile' to send along with the seedling tomorrow. I'd send some "FBPT", but she is still too small to spare anything worth sending. Next year maybe...

    Thanks, y'all, for the ideas.

    Virginia

  • 8 years ago

    Gorgeous, Cynthia. I just got more clematis. I hope they grow like yours!

    User thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
  • 8 years ago

    Ooh... MIP looks so fine with her clematis pal.

    Thanks, Cynthia!

    Virginia


  • 8 years ago

    Cynthia, it looks beautiful. I never knew just a hook ..1 hook can do beautiful magic. Your MIP looks stunning when it is in bloom. Wow

    User thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 8 years ago

    Lilyfinch!!!!! Got my email....Crep, Prosperity and Spice have shipped! Woo Hoo!! Waiting till Wed!

    User thanked gagalzone8
  • 8 years ago

    Comtesse, I do hope you won't stress out about your upcoming outing. Of course, I'm hoping to read whatever you have to report afterwards, so no self-fulfilling prophecies about crashing, please.

    I'm looking forward to the photos of your dreamy archways, or at least further musings about how best to complete them. Yes, visual aids are very helpful for those of us who are not exactly gifted with visualizing things of a technical nature.

    Take care,

    Virginia


  • 8 years ago

    Virgina, they had a couple of unusual and sturdy rebar arbours at the Uof Ky. Arboretum that I posted earlier this year. Scroll down and click to enlarge the pictures.

    http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4734369/rose-garden-at-the-uk-arboretum-lexington-ky?n=9

    User thanked Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
  • 8 years ago

    Comtesse, I think you found a great solution for the sturdiness of the arch that might be the only drawback of the trellis made from rebar on Jin's link, which otherwise has many brilliant ideas that I am tempted to try next year (thank you, Jin!). I spoke to a friend who helped me with some heavy-lifting work in our garden and he pointed that, to achieve the height, they placed one rebar on top of another and attached it with zip-ties. This might work well for lighter climbers but could be an issue for larger rose climbers that can put a lot of downward pressure on it. Inserting the top rebar arch into the four pre-drilled holes in the posts as you suggested would be much stronger and sturdier. The canopy is also quite brilliant. Nicely envisioned and I hope you have it done in your garden soon!

    Thanks, Virginia, for this very useful discussion. I'm sure I am one of many who have bookmarked it.

    User thanked vesfl (zone 5b/6a, Western NY)