Diamond Trellis Help

Uses

• Diamond trellises have multiple uses around the landscape, but their utility expands with a little creativity from the homeowner. Use a diamond trellis by itself to create a simple privacy screen for your patio or deck; install the trellis permanently or build it on a portable structure to add privacy to different spots as needed. If you are a gardener, use the diamond trellis to build the garden up vertically. Climbing vines and other trailing plants depend on support to grow to their potential. Growing edibles is easy with a diamond trellis; use the trellis to support grape vines, cucumbers or even pole beans. Plant your edibles or other vines in the ground next to the trellis or tack the trellis onto a box planter.

Support

• As edibles and flowers grow up the diagonal trellis, you may find that the trellis isn't strong enough to support the weight of the fruit and foliage. A well-trained vine weaves in and out of the diamond pattern and could eventually break the trellis if additional support isn't added. Check to ensure that the diamond lattice is secured to a sturdy support frame made of 1-by-4-inch or 2-by-4-inch boards. Insert studs of the same size boards within this basic frame to increase the structural integrity of the diamond trellis; studs can run horizontally or vertically. The frame with studs requires an anchor so it is not a freestanding structure. Install post holes to which to secure the frame, or secure it to the side of your house.

Broken Pieces

• The thin strips of wood, or laths, in diamond lattice trellises are very easy to break. Just one broken lath throws off the entire design, leaving a trellis that is less than desirable. Instead of replacing the entire sheet of lattice, pry the broken lath off the sheet and replace it with a new lath. It helps to save a few strips for repairs when you install the trellis, but they are available in single strips at most home improvement stores. Measure the length needed for the repair and cut an angled miter to match the old piece. Hold the new lath in place and secure it with a staple gun.

Finish

• Diamond trellises are most commonly available in a natural wood finish, although some plastic versions are painted white. Bare wood trellises require a protective coating to withstand weathering. You can protect the wood with a layer of clear coat polyurethane wood sealer, leaving the original color on the wood. If you have other wood elements in the landscape, stain the trellis to match, and then seal with clear coat. Another option is to paint the trellis to match a color on the outside of the house; use a paint intended for exterior use. Reserve your leftover paint or stain and use it to paint repair laths to match the rest of the trellis.