Pyramid Trellis

With this 7-foot trellis, your vining plants will have nowhere to go but up.

Mary Lee and Allen Millikin have built several trellises since their retirement, but this design was their first, and it's still the one they prize most.

"We admired a trellis like this at my cousin's house, then saw one just like it in a magazine," recalls Mary Lee of Ruther Glen, Virginia. "It was selling for $79 in the magazine, but our cost was around $20-quite a difference-and much more rewarding since we built it ourselves!

"One year we planted several mandevillas at its base. Since the trellis is 7 feet tall, we were able to see the top of it, with those beautiful blooms, while sitting in our easy chairs inside the house."

We recommend building this trellis with pressure-treated wood for two reasons: It's long-lasting for outdoor projects, and it won't need a coat of stain. Pressure-treated lumber does have high moisture content, though, so it's important to let it dry thoroughly before you begin building.

Ready to improve the view from your easy chair? Then read on!

Here's What You'll Need...

Note: Use pressure-treated lumber.

• Six 8-foot 2 x 2's
• Two 6-foot 5/4-inch x 6-inch deck boards
• One 6-inch 2-inch x 6-inch board
• One 3/16-inch x 2-1/2-inch dowel screw
• 3-1/2-inch, 2-1/2-inch, 2-inch and 1-5/8-inch galvanized deck screws
• One decorative finial

Recommended Tools...

• Table saw
• Power drill
• Duct tape

Download the instructions here.