This DIY arch trellis is an ideal size for any garden. Plus it’s very easy to build, and looks amazing too. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make your own, step by step.
By now you know that vertical gardening is a huge space saver. The best part about using a small arch trellis like this is that you can plant shorter crops underneath it, giving you twice the amount of room.
The metal pieces make the arch very strong, so it will have no problem supporting the weight of a vine full of mature and heavy fruits.
Another benefit of this small arch trellis is that the vegetables will hang down, making them easy to see. The arch is also tall enough so you won’t have to bend over too far to harvest.
Once the fencing has been secured onto the frame, the arch is portable too. Simply pull the pieces out of the ground, move the arch to the new spot, and push them back into the ground.
DIY Arch Trellis FAQs
In this section I’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about my DIY arch trellis design. If you don’t see yours here, ask it in the comments below.
Do you plant on the inside the trellis or on the outside?
I tend to plant on the outside of the trellis so I have plenty of space for shorter crops underneath. But you can do it the inside if you prefer, it doesn’t matter.
Do you plant on both ends of the arch, or just one side?
I plant on both ends of the arch so that the vines/branches will meet at the top and fill it completely. You could plant longer vines only on one side, but the other side could end up being bare for most of the summer.
What types of plants can I use this arch for?
This arch is perfect for smaller vining crops like cucumbers, peas, beans, tomatoes, and cucamelons, but you could use it for flowers too if you’d like. It’s very sturdy and will last for many years.
How To Build A DIY Arch Trellis
Below are the step by step instructions for how to make a DIY arch trellis, including photos. It’s really easy, and doesn’t take much time. You can make just one, or repeat these steps to build as many as you need.
This DIY arch trellis is simple to make, and very sturdy. You can install it in any sized veggie garden plot, or even in your raised beds.DIY Arch Trellis Step-By-Step Instructions
Materials
Instructions
Notes
This is a partial excerpt from my book Vertical Vegetables. For more creative step by step DIY projects, and to learn all there is to know about growing vegetables vertically, order your copy now.
Learn more about my new Vertical Vegetables book here.
More About Vertical Gardening
- How To Make A Cattle Panel Trellis Arch
- How To Make Sturdy DIY Tomato Cages
- How To Build A Pea Trellis Arch
- How To Build A Squash Arch For Your Garden
- 20 Excellent Trellis Plants For Your Garden
Share your tips for making your own DIY arch trellis in the comments section below.
Some of these photos were taken by Tracy Walsh Photography.
Samantha says
I made this today. I hope I did it right lol wish me luck and hope my cucumbers donthe break it… o.o
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! Don’t worry, your cucumbers won’t break this strong arch. 🙂
Erlene says
This is so neat. I have a really small area in the yard that I could do this and I may give it a try.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, hope it works well for you.
Janet Vinyard says
Hi Amy, Great ideas with the trellis! I’ll have to pass this on to my husband – he’s the gardener in the family! Thanks for sharing this! Blessings, Janet
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Dawn says
For tomatoes, my parents always used heavy gage wire fencing rolled into a cylinder and tied tight with wire. Use wire anchors to hold them in the ground.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Nice, thanks for sharing!
Karen says
Love your trellis idea…I’ll be adopting it and thank you so much! One question: do you think this would work with sugar peas as well? Thanks again.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks! Yes, this arch trellis would work for peas for sure.
Bree says
Thank you so much for this idea. I have been looking all over the internet for an easy idea I don’t need help building. Last year was my first vegetable garden. I live in the PNW and I think mold or fungus got to my cucumbers, so I am hoping a trellis will help with this problem (and of course save space).
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Good luck with it. 🙂
Paula V says
We’re diving in and giving your cucumber arch trellis a try! We are curious, do you plant on both ends of the arch or just one? In other words, in case I am not clear, do you have “pots of gold” at both ends of your rainbow or just one end!
Thanks for sharing your invigorating idea!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! Haha, pots of gold at the end of the rainbow… great visual! I plant on both ends of the arch trellis. You can plant on the inside of the fencing or on the outside – or both. That part doesn’t matter, the plants will find their way over the arch. Have fun!
caldeen benedict says
We have a lot of birds. Will this be a problem? I do not want to make it easier for the birds to get them.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… I have never had problems with birds eating anything from my garden (except the worms, ha, ha). What do the birds usually eat from your garden?
DP says
I invite birds with bird baths and houses. They eat the bugs!
Try growing tomatoes plants up one or two pieces of paracord. Tie loosely to bottom of plant or a stake, then the top end tied to a tree branch or the top of a long stake in the ground. As the plant grows you carefully wrap the main stem around the cord.
Mine get tied to a tree branch high enough to not block the sun. When the season is over you just wash it and wind it up for next year.
You can do this with other vine plants too. Cucumbers, squash, etc.
Brigg Franklin says
Do you build several 28″ wide trellis when you are planting beans or peas so there is enough growing space? If so, do you leave space between each trellis to reach the vegetables that hang in the middle. Do you plant the seeds or sprouts inside the trellis or on the outside? Do you use drip irrigation to water the plants you grow under the trellis? My raised beds are 4′ x 8′ and I hope to grow beans and peas the full length of the bed. Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I only have two of this size arch trellis in my small garden. I space them about 6″ to a foot apart when they are side by side. The cucumbers and beans hang down so they are easy to reach under the arch, which is one of the things I love the most about it. You can plant the seeds on either the inside or the outside of the arch (or both) it doesn’t matter. I currently don’t have drip irrigation in my garden, but hope to add it. Hope I got everything. 🙂
Brigg Franklin says
I see you have laid straw under your trellis. I put straw around my plants last year and now have wheat growing in my raised beds. How do you keep the wheat seeds from germinating?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it germinates and grows but it’s super easy to pull out. I buy the bails in the fall and they spend the winter outside in the freezing cold. I’ve found that this helps to minimize the amount of seeds that sprout. The straw I lay down in the spring grows a lot more. I let it grow until it’s long enough to easily pull, then just lay it down over the top to add more natural mulch. The amount of seeds that grow from the straw are much, much less than the amount of weeds I would have in my garden if I didn’t use straw, so it’s still a huge win. 🙂
Anu says
Need help re some type of tomato cages made out of 2×2 pieces of wood……or any other cheaper and easier way by a lady in her late 60’s (not very much of a handyman) to make.
Thanks a million . Learning so many things now 🙂
Anu
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Anu,
Here’s my plans for making one… Sturdy Tomato Cages
This arch trellis is even easier to make, and works great for tomatoes, I have used it for them for a few years, and it looks beautiful too!
Anonymous says
Just wondering how the lettuces and other "cold weather" crops did in the shade under the trellis? Love the pictures and the set up!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
They did great! I'm doing it again this year.
Anonymous says
Do the cukes fall off prematurely since they will be hanging? I have an old frame from my patio enclosure (gazebo) that I am either going to get rid of or make a new cover – it is way to expensive to buy another cover. Wouldn't this work to anchor chicken wire to grow my garden?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I was worried about the same thing when I first started growing cucumbers vertically. But they don't get too heavy that they break off. I've had a few pretty large ones, and I've never had any break off the vine when they were hanging.
Funny you mention the old gazebo frame. I have a bunch of upcycled trellises that used to be part of one of those gazebo frames. They work great!
Anonymous says
I like your ideas as well. I have a greenhouse 10×12, in the same shape as the trellis ideas. I often grow cucs to run along the walls of the greenhouse.
Why do you wish your tellis's to be small enough for a greenhouse? Do you take your greenhouse down in the summer?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thank you! Yes, we take the greenhouse down during the summer, otherwise it would be way too hot in there, even with the doors off. I need them short enough to fit under there because we put it back up in early fall to extend the season, so all of my trellises need to be short enough to fit. 🙂
knew says
i love your blog post about building supports for beans and cukes. it occurred to me that perhaps you could grow tomatoes that way as well? have you tried that?also, how many bean plants do you plant for each support? cukes?thanks so much! i truly appreciate your experience.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, this arch works great for tomatoes too, I’ve used it for them for a few years now. It looks really cool too! I plant my beans and cucumbers on both sides of the arch, and space them about 4-5″ apart. So I suppose it’s about 10-12 plants per arch, but I’ve never counted, LOL!
Jenn says
Growing vining vegs on an arched trellis is a fabulous space saver! I've never thought of growing lettuces under it…I'll have to try that this year and see how it does. I use sections of cattle panel for my cukes, smaller melons and squash. The cattle panels are quite sturdy, but can be very difficult to bend and arch without help.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, the arch design saves a ton of space, plus you get bonus space underneath! Cattle panel is extremely sturdy, but you’re right, it is impossible to bend and move into the garden by yourself – and it can also be hard to find at the store, and difficult to transport unless you have a long trailer. Here’s instructions to build my cattle panel arch trellis design, a much larger structure than the one I build for this post.
Angela says
Try a farmer’s Co-op store or other farm store for cattle panels. Tractor Supply or somewhere like that probably has them also.
MamaBear says
Concrete reinforcement wire from Home Depot is sold in huge rolls and by the sheet for about $8. Much easier to bend and it isn’t heavy. It is what I build my trellis system with.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Cool, thanks for the tip!