Making trellis fencing

You can make your own trellis fencing to suit any purpose, if you are prepared to pay great attention to detail. You must put it together evenly, and make it appear light and airy, while ensuring that the construction is strong.A suitable grade of wood for trellis work is a softwood such as lath timber.

The laths can measure anything from 1 in. x;inx thick to 2in. x 1 in. thick, depending on the function of the screen. If it has to bear a lot of weight or act as a wind break, the mesh should be heavier, but it is more important that the supports are strong. For a really sturdy fence, the posts should be set in concrete to make them firm.All wood must be treated thoroughly with a horticultural grade wood preservative beforefixing.

If you are using oak, fix the laths together with copper or brass nails-iron nails will stain the wood with black patches. For a neat job, Qin. or 1 in. long galvanized or aluminium roofing nails are best, as they are also rust-proof. Drive them through the wood against a clout plate (a flat sheet of metal with a circular recess in the middle). When you have mastered the technique, you will be able to get the tip of the nail to bend round into the back of the wood, so preventing the laths from splitting.

Fasten the laths together vertically and horizontally to form a mesh of 6in. to 8in. squares. It is best to construct your trellis in sections of a manageable size, then fix them to the supporting posts which have already been driven into the ground.

When used on a large scale, the main panels of trellis should be fastened to a stronger framework of timber (1 in. or 1 Zin. square). Long lengths of free-standing trellis work should be supported at 6ft intervals (3ft in areas that experience strong winds) on wooden uprights made from 2in. square or 2in. x 3in. timber.
Trellis work can be fixed to walls using wall plugs-plastic ones for preference. It can bescrewed to small wooden blocks or cotton reel: which have previously been fixed to the wall These distance pieces are necessary to hold thE trellis away from the wall, thus creating a spacf that enables the plants to climb i n and out of thf woodwork.

Prefabricated trellis work
Wood is a very popular fencing and screeninc material, because it is so versatile and easy t( work with. Prefabricated wood fences are nov available in a wide variety of styles, and usuall), come in ready-to-assemble kits. These kits are so accurately machined and complete that ever an amateur can erect the panels easily.

support than stakes, as it offers more width and places to tie the
Above. A clout plate helps in the assembly of trellis work. The circular recess bends the tip of the nail round, ready to be hammered into the back of the wooden lath.

sprawling plants. The main drawback of growing plants on a trellis is that they need more pruning than when grown elsewhere.
If you want your trellis to act as a screen, you should choose plants that will make a dense cover. Here are a few suggestions for plants which are suitable for this purpose.
Clematis montana. A quick and very hardy climber with pink or white flowers.
Cotoneaster cornubia. An attractive woody shrub.
Cobaea scandens ('Cup and saucer plant'). An invaluable annual climber that will grow to a considerable height in one season, with either deep blue or green flowers. Can be used in shady places.
lpomoea (Morning Glory). A pretty annual climber with bright blue flowers. Must have sun.
Lonicera japonia (Honeysuckle). All of the honeysuckles are good fast-growing climbers with sweet-smelling flowers. However, not all of them are evergreen.
Polygonum baldschanicum (Russian vine). A particularly fast-growing climber. Only to be grown if you have a vast area to cover.
Rosa (Rose). There are many different varieties of climbing rose, so choose one that likes the aspect. There are several that like only
sun and more that will do well in a shady corner.
Vitis (Vine). Virginia creeper is one of the best-known varieties, with its beautifully coloured red autumnal leaves.

Fixing plants to trellis
If you are training plants against a trellis fence, you should use soft materials to tie them in place. Raffia, string, or plastic coated wire are all suitable, depending on the weight of the plant. It is important that wire does not cut the branches, and bare wire can heat up enough under hot sunlight to burn tender shoots. Insulated wire and plastic clothes line provide good supporting wires, as they won't heat up and are strong enough to keep most climbing plants standing straight up.

Plants that twine or cling are easier to manage than stiff, floppy branches that have to be tied or stapled again and again. But for this type of plant, it is best not to paint the trellis, as it is almost impossible to extricate the plant from it when the wood needs repainting.

However, a total construction of trellis and plants can easily be removed from a brick or bargeboard wall for repainting, without damaging the plants. Providing, of course, that you can arrange sufficient braces to support the trellis while you are working.
Trellis is multi-purpose, and can be used for decoration, disguise, or simply as fencing. Small wonder it is a popular addition to most homes..!

How to make trellis fencing