DIY Planter Trellis - Perfect For Container Gardens

Grow the container garden of your dreams with this easy diy planter trellis. Perfect for tomatoes or any vining plant!

This is going to be the summer of tomatoes! Or at least I hope it is. I’ve already started a bunch from seed. I’ve got some cherry, roma, beefsteak, moneymakers and delicious all growing in my kitchen right now. And I’m planning on growing most all of them in planters on our backyard deck. So knowing these tomato plants were going to need a planter trellis to support them, I started searching for some to buy.

But then I stumbled upon this trellis idea, I instantly knew that buying them was not the answer. Instead I was going to build my planter trellis’s with some tweaks to make them more ‘Laura styled’. (It’s a thing!) And this is what I created…

Grow the container garden of your dreams with this diy planter trellis. Perfect for tomatoes or any vining plant! #plantertrellis #trellis

My first tomato plant of the season is officially planted. So even though this looks bare now, I’m hoping to have this planter trellis covered with gorgeous, red tomatoes in a few months!

If you are looking for a trellis for your tomatoes or other vining plants or flowers, this one could not be easier to make!

Supplies Needed

(6) 1/4 x 5/8 wood strips, cut to 4-foot lengths (the best option is cedar but pine, oak and popular will work – just make to sure to water seal)
(2) set of wooden quilters hoops (at least 14 inches in diameters)
wood glue
(1) 1 inch dowel (cut to 3-inch length)
(1) decorative finial
(12) 1-inch No. 8 bolts
(12) nuts (for the bolts)
(2-4) curtain rod rings (needs to accommodate 1 1/2 inch rod)
(1) 14-16 inch planter/pot
gardening soil
climbing plant
drill
screwdriver

One important step to note before you start this project is the wood strips need to soak in water for at least 12 hours before you begin building the trellis. This allows them to become more bendable for the project. Cedar was the suggested wood of choice but I could not find cedar strips anywhere. Plus, I wanted a different look – a tad bit more dressy – so I went with wood molding. Other wood options that would be great are pine, oak or poplar. (Just remember to water-seal.)

How To Build

Start by gluing the inner and outer quilters hoop together with wood glue. Simply apply glue on inner ring, then insert into hoop and tighten with clamp. Once the glue is completely dry, remove clamps from the hoop.

Next, drill a hole in the center of the 1-inch dowel. Then, simply screw the finial into the dowel.

Then surround the dowel with wet molding, pushing the ends up to the bottom of the finial. Slide the curtain rings up the bundle to secure them.

Tip: if needing help to secure the molding bundle tight, wrap a rubber band around the bundle first then slide rings over top to hide.

Now, place the finial on the ground and grab one of the prepared quilter hoops. Slide the hoop inside the molding strips and slowly work it up the trellis until it’s about 1-1/2 feet from the top finial. (This step can be a little trick, but be patient, it will work!)

One by one, feed the bottom strips into the second prepared quilter hoop until they are all inside. Then slide that hoop up about 1 foot from the bottom.

Please note: the first hoop will go inside the strips and the second hoop will be outside like shown in the picture below.

All that’s left now is to drill a hole through all cross-sections of the molding and the quilters hoops. Screw in the bolts and secure with the nuts.

Here’s a view of it finished sitting in an empty planter. I’m loving the light wood contrast with the black! So good!

The Finished Planter Trellis

And here’s what it looks like outside with an actual tomato plant!

Knowing that the tomato plant is going to grow up and leave the surface of the soil bare, I decided to add some basil and Easter bonnet white alyssum to the planter as well. 🙂 Can’t wait to see all this grow in around the planter trellis.

Keep in mind – Colorado is just slowly starting to experience spring. So the outdoors right now still look kind of drabby. But once summer is in full swing and the plants are bigger, I will update this post with some newer/better pics!

The cost to build one planter trellis is only around $37 bucks. This does not include the finial or rings because the price of those can vary a ton based on the style/selection. And you could lower the cost even more if you choose less decorative molding.

If you’re looking for some great planters that are perfect for this wooden trellis, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites to share as well. (Just click on the images below to shop.)

Don’t forget to PIN this tutorial for later!