I lost one of my favorite old trees this year and have been doing all I can to put it to good use. As I continue to collect all of its fallen branches and limbs, I’ve noticed that several are nearly the same length and diameter. This, in turn, has me thinking about rustic-looking trellises.
Just what could be built out of so many sticks?
I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of new configurations. One of my favorites is the tall obelisk trellis I fashioned out of four large, supporting limbs and a dozen smaller sticks. I plan to use it to shore up my multi-headed, branching sunflowers as well as some vining plants this season.
Whether you have a fallen tree to contend with as well or you’re just picking up a few sticks after the last big wind storm, you can (and should!) make some DIY trellises, too. In fact, once you become accustomed to working with both dry and green sticks of all sizes, you’ll be limited only by your imagination.
Until then, check out the video to make an obelisk trellis for your garden. To get started building the obelisk, you’ll need:
- assorted tree limbs and sticks with all side branches removed
- measuring tape
- handsaw
- drill
- small hammer/mallet
- permanent marker
- knife/scissors
- wire
- dowel rods or sturdy twigs
- twine
- wood glue (optional)
- four cinder blocks (optional)
Read more: Downed branches or tree? Check out these 10 eco-friendly ways to use a fallen tree.
Step by Step
- Cut four upright supports, each roughly the same length and diameter. (You’ll also need to gather three sets of four smaller cross supports.)
- Use cinder blocks to help position upright supports. Mark potential drill sites at the top of each upright post.
- Drill holes through the marked areas. Connect the tops of the posts to one another either with threaded wire or with twig/dowel pegs and wood glue. Wrap twine around the top of the obelisk trellis to reinforce these joints.
- Measure and trim a set of four cross supports. Position these near the top of the obelisk and mark potential drill sites. Drill through both ends of each cross support and drill the upright supports where the cross supports will be attached. Connect these with threaded wire or with twig/dowel pegs and wood glue. Use twine to reinforce each of these joints.
- Repeat step 4 two more times—once around the middle of the obelisk and again near the base of the obelisk.
