How to turn a regular fence into a trellis

I will show you an easy and cheap trick to turn a regular privacy fence into a practical trellis.

My garden is small and I need to maximize space, so I devised a way to turn my existing privacy fence into a productive trellis. All you have to do is attach wire fencing to the wood. It is easy to do, provides a perfect structure for veggies to climb and aesthetically, you can hardly see it.

Materials needed to convert fence into a trellis

• Welded wire fencing or hardware cloth
• Poultry staples

How to install wire fencing to privacy fence

1. Measure the area you want to cover and then measure a piece of wire fencing. (You can install it in sections if that’s easier, or install a longer piece and attach it at intervals of every 3′ or so. You don’t want it much longer than that or it will gape and not be as stable.)

2. Cut it with wire cutters. Be sure to cut off any ends sticking out that would be dangerous.

3. Cut it with wire cutters. Be sure to cut off any ends sticking out that would be dangerous.

4. Hold it in place against the wood fence and attach with poultry staples. Don’t apply it super tight to fence. Allow a little space between it and the wood fence so the plants have room to attach. It should balloon outwards a little bit.

Watch video to see how to convert a regular fence into a trellis

Uses for Trellis

I grow cucumbers and pole beans on the fence. They use their tendrils to climb it perfectly.

I use this trellis for my raspberries. I have to tie them up every so often. See more about how I grow raspberries somewhat unconventionally against a fence due to a small growing space.

I also use this trellis for flowers. Here you can see my purple passionflower (passiflora incarnata) growing on the trellis.

Grow with me

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