Using Lodge Posts for a Garden Trellis

Anyone who’s ever had a vining plant knows the importance of having a reliable structure for the vines to climb. A teepee structure is an ideal solution in a vegetable garden. It offers a simple, inexpensive way to support any climbing plants. Read on to find out how to make a trellis out of lodge posts for any type of garden.

Adding a teepee structure to your vegetable garden

A teepee structure is quite common in vegetable gardens to support the growth of vine crops. It can be as simple as connecting three poles or more complicated depending on your needs and tastes. This kind of structure is ideal, since you’re able to move it around depending on where it’s needed in a given growing season. A teepee structure has visual appeal plus practical considerations, as the vegetables will be at an ideal height for harvest. Some vegetables that will grow nicely in teepee garden trellises include:

• Beans
• Squash
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Peas

Building a teepee trellis

Ideally, the teepee structure should be six to eight feet tall. However, a shorter trellis constructed of branches can work for smaller plants. How long the teepee will last for depends on the wood you use. Some may last a year or two, whereas others will last six or seven years. Trees that soak up a lot of water are always great choices thanks to their enhanced flexibility. This includes branches from trees including:

• Apple
• Elm
• Cypress
• Oak
• Cedar

Other choices like sycamore or mulberry are more likely to rot over the course of a year or two. For the teepee plant support, bamboo is the best choice. Make sure that the bamboo is about eight feet long. You’ll need five to ten poles to create a sturdy structure.

Material considerations

The material you choose for the garden trellis should be based on its use. For vegetables, shorter-lasting materials are fine. But if you want to use it for perennials that will come back year after year, use materials with more longevity.

One way to make sure your teepee structure lasts long into the future is to use rebar for the supports. Recycled materials—like the handles of old shovels or rakes—is an eco-friendly way to go about building your own garden trellis.

Put lodge posts to work in your garden

Building a garden trellis is one of the most popular alternate uses for lodge posts. If you have lodge posts left over from building a fence or another project, don’t dispose of them. Instead, put them to use on your property to support a burgeoning garden.

If you’re looking for high-quality teepee poles and lodge posts that will last, come to Huberwoods. We have a wide selection of teepee poles that are sold unfinished so that you can treat and finish them the way you want. We also have a great selection of lodge posts and can meet all of your lumber needs. Contact us today to find out more about our offerings.

Categorised in: Lodgepoles

This post was written by Writer