How to Make Trellis Netting: The Ultimate DIY Trellis Net Guide for Your Garden

 

DIY Trellis Netting: How to Build and Use a Trellis Net for a Thriving Vertical Garden

Vertical gardening is an innovative and space-saving solution that transforms any outdoor (or even indoor) area into a lush, productive space. Whether you have limited room or simply want to grow more in less space, trellis netting is the key to making it happen. A well-built DIY trellis net not only supports climbing plants but also encourages better airflow, healthier crops, and easier harvesting.

In this guide, you'll learn how to make trellis netting, the materials involved—like jute, Hortonova, and poultry wire fencing—as well as how to build trellis netting and select the right plants. We’ll also address some of the most searched questions about trellising, from “how to make jute netting” to “how to tie a trellis net.”

Let’s dig into the art and science of building your own DIY net trellis for a healthier, more efficient garden.

What Is Trellis Netting?

Trellis netting is a supportive mesh or grid that allows vining or climbing plants to grow vertically. It's commonly used in vertical gardening to maximize space and improve productivity.

Types of Trellis Netting Materials

Trellis netting can be made from a variety of materials, each suited to specific growing needs:

  • Jute Netting
    Untreated jute is a plant-based fiber that can biodegrade under suitable conditions. Coatings, weather, crop residue, and local disposal options affect that outcome, so it is best suited to light crops and shorter-term projects. Learn more about our premium sustainable plant trellises here.
  • Hortonova Trellis Netting
    Hortonova is a polypropylene mesh sold for crop support. Follow the product specifications for load and ultraviolet exposure, inspect it before reuse, and consider end-of-life disposal because it is plastic. You can explore Hortonova options in our trellis collection.
  • Poultry Wire Fencing
    Often used in garden construction, poultry wire fencing can be adapted into a trellis system. It’s particularly sturdy and great for long-term structures or for climbing perennials.

Benefits of Using Trellis Netting

  • Space Efficiency: Grow vertically, not horizontally—perfect for urban or small-space gardens.
  • Yield potential: Better spacing and light interception may help some crops, but yield also depends on cultivar, fertility, water, pollination, pests, weather, and pruning.
  • Disease management: Trellising may improve airflow and keep some foliage or fruit off the soil, but it does not prevent fungal disease or replace sanitation and crop-specific management.
  • Ease of Harvesting: Harvest your fruits and vegetables without bending over or digging through tangled vines.
  • Material tradeoffs: Some plastic netting can be reused if intact; untreated jute may have a shorter service life. Reuse, contamination, local disposal, and plastic recovery determine waste.

Learn more about the impact of vertical gardening on your crop health in our article: Vertical Gardening for Healthier Vegetables & Fruit.

Best Plants for Trellis Netting

If you’re wondering how to use trellis netting for vegetables, here are excellent candidates for vertical growth:

Vegetables

  • Peas
  • Pole beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Squash (lightweight varieties)
  • Melons (with support slings)

Fruits & Vines

Ornamentals

  • Sweet peas
  • Morning glories
  • Climbing roses
  • Ivy

Want to go beyond the basics? Explore espalier trellising in our visual guide: Gallery of Espalier Forms.

Supplies for Building DIY Trellis Netting

To build your own DIY trellis net, gather the following supplies:

  • Wood or Metal Stakes: 1x1 or 2x2-inch stakes, at least 4–5 feet tall.
  • Horizontal Support Beams: Wooden boards or metal pipes to span between the vertical stakes.
  • Netting Material: Choose between jute netting or Hortonova netting.
  • Nails or Screws: To secure beams and netting.
  • Hammer or Screwdriver
  • Measuring Tape
  • Level Tool: Ensure proper alignment.
  • Saw: Hand saw or electric for cutting beams.
  • Optional: Garden ties or clips to help direct plants as they climb.

For a ready selection of trellis components, browse our Plant Support collection.

How to Build a Trellis Netting System

Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to make a trellis net:

Step 1: Choose a Location

Pick a spot that receives full sun for most of the day. Ensure the ground is level and has space for plant roots.

Step 2: Measure and Mark

Use your tape measure to plan out the desired height and width of your trellis. Mark where the stakes will go—spacing them 3–6 feet apart depending on your plants.

Step 3: Install Vertical Stakes

Drive your wooden or metal stakes into the ground with a hammer or mallet. Ensure they're deep enough (at least 12 inches) to remain stable through wind or watering.

Step 4: Add Horizontal Beams

Secure beams across the top of the stakes. For heavy-duty trellising (e.g., for tomatoes or melons), you may want additional beams halfway up.

Step 5: Attach Trellis Netting

Whether you're using jute, Hortonova, or poultry wire fencing, stretch your material taut across the frame. Nail, staple, or zip-tie it securely.

How to Tie a Trellis Net

When learning how to tie a trellis net, make sure to:

  • Start from the top corners and work your way down.
  • Tie or secure each corner tightly.
  • Use garden twine to anchor any loose sections.

Step 6: Secure the Base

Anchor the netting to the ground using pegs or extra stakes. This ensures your plants have an easy path to climb.

Step 7: Plant and Train

Plant your seeds or seedlings near the base of the netting. Gently guide young tendrils through the net as they grow.

Advanced Tips for DIY Trellis Success

  • Companion Planting: Pair trellised plants with ground cover like basil or marigold to deter pests.
  • Crop Rotation: Rotate crops annually to avoid soil nutrient depletion.
  • Reinforcement: For extra tall trellises or windy areas, add guy wires or side braces.
  • Extend Trellis Life: Clean and store Hortonova netting at season’s end for reuse.

For permanent installations like hops or berry trellises, check out our guide on Trellis Design for Hops.

Conclusion

A DIY trellis can organize a backyard or small-space garden, but cost, service life, crop load, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal vary by material. Build for the mature crop and local wind exposure. From Hortonova to poultry wire fencing, and from tomatoes to grapes, the possibilities for your trellis garden are nearly endless.

Shop for everything you need in our full selection of plant supports and trellises and get started today on your own DIY net trellis.

FAQ About Making Trellis Netting

  • How do I make a homemade trellis?
    • To make a homemade trellis, you'll need vertical stakes, horizontal beams, and netting material such as jute or Hortonova. Assemble a rectangular frame, secure the netting, and plant climbing crops at the base. See our detailed steps above.
  • Is it cheaper to make your own trellis?
    • Yes, building your own trellis is often more cost-effective than buying pre-made structures. Using repurposed wood or materials like poultry wire fencing or jute can reduce costs even further.
  • What is the difference between a trellis and a lattice?
    • A trellis is a framework used to support climbing plants, often made from wood, metal, or netting. A lattice is a crisscrossed structure often used decoratively on walls or fences. Trellises are typically more functional for gardening purposes.
  • How to use trellis netting for vegetables?
    • Install trellis netting above your garden bed and plant vegetables like beans or cucumbers at the base. Gently tie or guide the plants to the net as they grow to encourage upward climbing.
  • How to build trellis netting?
    • Build a frame using vertical and horizontal supports, then attach netting material securely across it. Use a netting rated for the crop load. Compare reusable polypropylene with untreated jute’s shorter service life and local disposal options.
  • How to create a string trellis?
    • String trellises use twine or jute stretched between supports. They can work for peas or beans when rated for the load; only untreated natural fiber should be described as biodegradable, and conditions affect breakdown.
  • How to secure trellis net?
    • Secure trellis netting using staples, zip ties, or garden twine. Ensure tension across the entire frame to prevent sagging. Anchor the bottom using stakes or ground pegs.
  • What is trellis netting made of?
    • Trellis netting can be made from jute, Hortonova (polypropylene), cotton string, nylon, or wire mesh depending on the plant type and structure permanence.
  • How to make jute netting?
    • To make jute netting, stretch rows of jute twine between two posts horizontally and tie vertical strands in intervals to form a net. Untreated jute is generally best for light crops and short-term use; coatings and growing conditions affect biodegradation.

Place netting in the full support resource path

This guide covers trellis-net layout and installation. Use Plant Support Options to compare netting with cages, stakes, grids, teepees, ties, rigid panels, and permanent post-and-wire systems by crop habit, mature load, wind, maintenance, reuse, and storage.

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