How to Make a Bamboo Trellis

This all sounds very organized, but it’s really like second nature, and you won’t even realize you are following steps, at least I didn’t when I decided to recount what it was that I did to make my trellis.  Sure, it's not perfect, but its functional and sturdy!

• First, you need access to materials…check, bamboo grows in patches down here that spread by sending up new shoots in random parts of people’s yards. 
• Take measurements-how much space do you want to cover.
• Next, you need a plan…I felt like a schoolgirl drawing with my plastic ruler on some lined notebook paper I found.

• Get your materials together, for a trellis 7 feet high and 4 feet wide, I used:

            (4) Length pieces, about 7 feet long

            (4) Metal stakes, at least 5 inches long

            (4) Cross pieces, about 5 feet long

            Twine/outdoor string

            2 nails

• Lay the pieces out on the ground
• Weave the cross pieces in front of and behind (alternating) the length pieces
• Adjust the cross pieces to leave an even amount of space between them, I went with 16 inches
• Tie in place at meeting points, wrapping both around each piece and cross-wise each direction for greater stability, test for slippage
• Bring two length pieces together near their top and secure by tying
• Pound outside stakes into ground at desired location
• Set the trellis up and tie bottoms to outer stakes
• Pound inside stakes and tie the same
• Mark contact points of the top ties
• Pound one nail each at that point into the surface it will lean against
• Secure by tying the top at cross point to the nail on each side

Fin!

Step back and enjoy your creation, weave you plants through or plant something anew.

*This trellis is baby anole approved :)