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Building an arch trellis is an easy way to upgrade your garden and also provide a range of benefits that will improve your growing experience. There are many different variations and ways to build an arch trellis, but I found the following method to be fairly simple and practical. I liked the look of placing my archway between two raised beds that I could grow from, but they are not a structural component, so planting straight into the ground is a perfectly great option too! Either way, I’ve provided you will all the information and resources I could think of to help you along the way, so let’s get into it:
Benefits of vertical gardening:
- Saves a huge amount of ground space considering vines grow up and over instead of trailing all over the garden floor.
- Allows you to grow more plants with all the freed up space.
- Fruit is less susceptible to being eaten by critters trying to get their hands on it and take a munch.
- Much easier to spot bugs and any eggs they may have laid since you have a much clearer view of the undersides of leaves growing up and over the trellis.
- Easier access to fruit and vegetables, as they tend to hang through the panel above your head and are also easy to access from the sides, rather than having to dig through a huge patch of leaves strewn across the ground.
- Guaranteed to bring joy when you get to walk through a tunnel of beautiful greenery that you created yourself.
Supplies you will need:
- 4 6 ft studded T-posts
- 50 in x 16 ft steel cattle panel
- Heavy-duty zip ties
- Sledgehammer or T-post driver
- Tape measure
- Optional but recommended if you’re growing any heavy fruits/veggies: Melon hammocks and S hooks for hanging them
Step-by-step guide to building your arch trellis:
Step 1: Measure
Before getting started, make sure to measure and mark the spaces where you will be setting up your posts. For a 50 in x 16 ft cattle panel, you’ll want to space the posts a couple inches shy of 50 inches apart (roughly 46 in apart), so that they sit just within the edges of the panel. I recommend making the walkway somewhere between 2-3 feet wide, but no larger, otherwise the top of the arch will sit too low to comfortably walk through. The wider the walkway, the shorter the arch.
Step 2: Drive T-posts into the ground
Once you have your spaces marked, it’s time to get those posts into the ground. Make sure the studded sides are facing inward, towards the path, and make sure they go in straight and don’t end up crooked. Drive them deep enough so that they are firmly planted into the ground.
Note: T-post drivers are the easiest way to get these in the ground, but they can be quite expensive. I had no problem getting the job done with a small sledgehammer. To make things a bit easier, I held a small piece of 2 x 6 lumber over the top of the stakes when hammering them into the ground to help distribute the force. This certainly isn’t necessary but I found it to be extremely helpful, so I figured it was worth mentioning!
Step 3: Bend cattle panel into an arch and position it in place
With the help of an extra person, bend the panel and position so that it sits on the interior side of the posts where the studs are (pictured below). Have one person firmly hold it in place while the other secures it to the posts with the zip ties (3-5 zip ties per post should be sufficient).
Note: If you are using 2 panels, you have two options. 1) Set up 2 more stakes (6 total) and slightly overlap the two panels, like I did, or 2) for a more aesthetic appeal, set up 4 more stakes so that the panels are positioned right up against each other.
Step 4: Plant your favorite vining plants
Just plant your seeds or seedlings right along the base on the outside of the arch and watch them grow into the most beautiful archway. Take a look at the list below to see all the best plants I recommend for growing along your arch trellis!
Best fruits and vegetables to grow on an arch trellis:
- Cucumbers
- Luffas
- Butternut squash
- Pie pumpkins
- Pole beans
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
Total Cost:
Note that this is what I paid to build my double archway, although I have included individual prices.
Cattle panel: $23 x 2 = $46
T-posts: $7 x 6 = $42
Zip ties: $9/15-pack x 2 = $18
Total: $106 (only $60 for single panel archway)
Not included: Sledgehammer because I already owned one.
I hope this post was helpful and gave you the knowledge and motivation you need to get started on building your beautiful, new arch trellis. This is truly my favorite part of the garden and it brings me so much joy to look at and walk through every day. I hope you get the same effect! Let me know about your experience in the comments down below. I’d love to hear your feedback!
