Garden Obelisk Trellis

• An obelisk with multiple posts

A popular choice with keen gardeners who have a long bed of plants which need to be supported during early stages of growth. This design is often very large and can be overpowering in your garden, especially if you have a small outdoor area. In order to make these garden obelisks seem less intrusive, they are generally created with pretty leafy designs for a warmer touch.

• Wooden style trellis

If you want a natural look in your garden, the traditional wooden style of obelisk trellis might be an option to consider. One design is the pyramid style, which allows multiple plants to grow around one solid obelisk. The rustic design adds a warm touch to the garden and is not overbearing like some other materials, such as metal, might be. Repainting the obelisk with suitable wood paint or chalk will ensure that it never looks dated and is given a new lease of life when necessary.

• Circular obelisk

A circular obelisk around 50 inches in diameter can support around 20 small plants. This style usually has an outer copper or metal ring and an inner ring, with small rods or posts connecting the rings and providing extra support for your plants. Since this design is quite decorative, it can also be used as a feature piece in the garden and complement your plants.

• Bird house obelisk

A larger obelisk is ideal if you have tall plants that you need to support while they are growing in your garden. Regardless of whether you choose wood or metal, a bird house obelisk is a great way to help the nature around you while also enjoying lovely plants. This design is generally around seven feet tall, and may be one straight post or multiple slanted posts meeting together at the top to create a pyramid shape. At the top you will find the bird house or bird bath – the perfect feature piece for any garden and a great way to fully enjoy nature on your doorstep.

• Spiral obelisk

Spiral obelisks are a good type of garden obelisk trellis for certain types of plants, such as ivy or honeysuckle. A spiral piece is normally made from chrome or another form of metal e.g. copper. This enables the obelisk trellis to be sturdy and durable all year round in your garden. It is a sleek and elegant design, consisting of a straight piece at the bottom to sit securely in the ground, and a decorative spiralled post ascending seven or eight feet tall.

To decide which plants will do best on what kind of trellis, you need to narrow down its use.

• If your trellis' primary goal is to be merely decorative, you won't need to train vegetables to increase your yield.
• Arch and tripod trellises allow you to shape garden plants such as japonica or passionflower to build romantic outdoor spaces and craft topiaries from laurel and boxwood.
• On the other hand, if you want your trellis to frame your outdoor space or screen a patio from view, you will need a plant that has a lot of leaves such as monstera or grapevines, or dense flowering plants such as climbing roses.
• If you are placing the trellis outside a window, opt for a more fragrant plant, like jasmine, so the aroma drifts into the house. Fan trellises are excellent for flowering perennials, as the spread ribs at the top help show off blossoms to the best advantage.
• Ladder trellises are excellent in vegetable gardens as the plants will climb up both sides, doubling your garden output. Tomatoes and nasturtium do exceptionally well on a ladder or A-frame trellis.

Once you have decided on the style and function of your trellis, the next thing to consider is the best material to choose that encourages plant growth and coordinates with the style of your outdoor décor.

Make sure wooden trellises are treated with weather-proof stain so it won't rot. Metal is an excellent material for trellises as it is sturdy and won't corrode easily, but keep in mind that some plants prefer wood to metal. You can also get trellises made of vinyl, which is more durable than metal and wood and weather resistant.

Copper tubing is another sturdy option and develops a lovely blue patina in the elements which can add a rustic style to your outdoor space.

When you're training your plants to grow up a trellis, never use metal clamps or plastic ties. Opt for natural fibers like twine as the artificial fasteners can inhibit the growth of the plant.

Use furring strips to attach your trellis to a wall to allow for more air circulation for your plants, easy maintenance, and quick removal.