Anything is a trellis if you’re brave enough. – Abraham Lincoln

People that know me IRL (that’s ‘in real life,’ noob), or have gotten to know me through my illustrious blogging career, understand that I draw a lot of my life passion from inspirational quotes.

Now, I have never personally spoken with Mr. Lincoln, but I have every reason to believe he’d be a go-to source for trellises.  Straight-shooter, known for his height, likes cucumbers (allegedly), nicknamed ‘Polebean’ (never alleged) – it just makes sense.

And, much like Lincoln’s words gave shape and guidance to what we hope our country becomes, trellises allow fruits and vegetables to rise above the muck and reach the pinnacle of their true potential. 

So, what makes for a good trellis?  The boys and I did some hard-hitting analysis, and we determined that the best trellises have one thing in common: plants can climb them.  Guess what?  Plants can climb lots of stuff.

You don’t need to go out and buy some big, fancy contraption to act as a plant elevator (sorry Big Trellis).  There are any number of items in and around your garden that can be repurposed.  Some things we’ve used in the past:

Sticks.  Yes, I mean sticks – like former branches that were jettisoned from their mother tree for transgressions only they know.  Run some netting between two sticks stuck upright in the garden bed – boom, that’s a trellis.  Fancy yourself more of a craftsperson?  Lean together several sticks for an A-frame structure, then secure that with twine or duct tape.  You may have to accept the Blair Witch aesthetic, but your plants will be happy.

Existing structures by your garden.  Sometimes the best made trellis is the one that’s standing right in front of you.  Is there a fence, deck or pergola near your garden?  If so, just run some garden twine or secure some wood/sticks to it to let the plants spread their wings.  We’re talking about trellises – no need to overthink it. 

Scraps from other projects.  I often use leftover wood or random items like former closet clothes rack poles and broken shovel handles to create a trellis.  MacGyver’s not the only one that can MacGyver stuff.  Also, you’re cleaning junk out of your garage or storage – that’s a win/win.

Other garden items. We’re not talking about the Taj Mahal here, but something as simple as a tomato cage turned on its side will keep plants off the ground which allows airflow and prevents rot/mildew.  Keep in mind, you don’t want to plant the same veggies in the same spot year after year, so having a more permanent trellis might not be worth it.

That’s not an exhaustive list.  I’ve used a whole bunch of other random items in my gardening exploits.  But, ultimately, a trellis is in the eye of the beholder.

So, when you look out into that cold, grey world we live in, take solace in the fact that the debris, the clutter, the cast-asides could, with the right amount of love, become a trellis in your garden.  A truly noble cause.