April 05, 2023 4 min read

The Tools You Need For Different Types Of DIY Trellises

Building a custom trellis can be a fun and rewarding DIY project for anyone looking to add some plant supports in their garden. In this article, we'll cover the basic tools that you'll need to build a plant trellis using four common materials: wood, EMT Conduit, PVC, and T-posts with cattle panels.

Tools Needed For A DIY Wooden Trellis:

Measuring tape: A measuring tape is used to measure the length and width of the boards, as well as the distance between the holes that will be drilled for the screws.
Pencil: You will need to mark your desired measurements on the boards before cutting them.
Circular saw: This tool is used to cut the wooden boards to the desired length and width. It's important to use a circular saw that's powerful enough to cut through thick boards without bogging down.
Drill/driver: A drill/driver is used to attach the boards together using screws. Make sure to use a drill/driver that has enough torque to drive the screws into the wood without stripping them.
Level: A level is used to ensure that the trellis is straight and level.
Carpenter's square: A carpenter's square is used to ensure that the corners of the trellis are square.

To build a trellis with wood, you'll need to cut the boards to the desired length and width using a circular saw.Make sure to measure the length and width of the boards accurately.Then, you'll use a drill/driver to attach the boards together using screws. Use a level while building to ensure that the trellis is straight and level. You can use a carpenter's square to ensure that the corners of the trellis are square.

Tools Needed For A DIY Conduit Trellis:

Measuring tape: A measuring tape is used to measure the length of the EMT conduit and the distance between the holes that will be drilled for the screws.
Permanent or dry erase marker: This will be used to mark the length of your pipes before cutting them.
Pipe cutter: A pipe cutter is used to cut the EMT Conduit to the desired length.
5mm hex wrench : You can use any type of 5mm hex wrench to fully assemble your conduit frame with connectors.
Level: A level is used to ensure that the trellis is straight and level while building.

To build a trellis with EMT Conduit, you'll need to cut the conduit to the desired length using a pipe cutter.Make sure to measure the length of the conduit accurately based on your garden bed dimensions.Then, you'll use a 5mm hex wrench to tighten building clamps around pieces of EMT Conduit. Use a level to ensure that the trellis is straight and level.

Tools for building a trellis with PVC:

PVC pipes sitting buried inside of soil in a garden bed

Measuring tape: A measuring tape is used to measure the length of the PVC pipes and the distance between the joints that will be glued together.
Marker: This is used to mark the desired lengths of PVC before cutting.
Hacksaw: A hacksaw is used to cut the PVC pipes to the desired length. Make sure to use a hacksaw that's designed for cutting plastic.
PVC glue: PVC glue is used to attach the PVC pipes together. Make sure to use PVC glue that's designed for outdoor use.
Level: A level is used to ensure that the trellis is straight and level.

Man putting PVC glue onto pipes in the garden

To build a trellis with PVC, you'll need to cut the pipes to the desired length using a hacksaw.Make sure to measure the length of the pipes correctly.Then, you'll use PVC glue to attach the pipes together. Alternatively, you can adapt steel building connectors like these to work with PVC. Use a level to ensure that the trellis is straight and level.

Tools for building a trellis with T-posts and cattle panels:

Man cutting wire fence inside of an outdoor garden

T-post driver: A T-post driver is used to drive the T-posts into the ground.
Marker: You will use this to mark where the cattle panel needs to be cut.
Measuring tape: A measuring tape is used to measure the length and width of the cattle panels.
Wire cutters: Wire cutters are used to cut the cattle panels to the desired length.
Zip ties: Zip ties are used to attach the cattle panels to the T-posts.

To build a trellis with T-posts and cattle panels, you'll need to drive the T-posts into the ground using a T-post driver.Make sure to measure the length and width of the cattle panels accurately.Then, you'll use wire cutters to cut the cattle panels to the desired length and attach them to the T-posts using zip ties.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a trellis is a fun and rewarding DIY project that can be done with a variety of materials. Each material requires its own set of tools, but with the right tools and some basic skills, you can build a custom trellis for your garden or outdoor space. Remember to take accurate measurements and use a level to ensure that your trellis is straight and level. Happy building!