Decorative trellises add charm to the garden

Sunset, August, 1994 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

Latticework frames for plants range from rustic to formal

BLANK, VERTICAL GARDEN walls cry out for lush green vines and colorful climbers to soften stark lines. The easiest and most attractive way to support twining and vining plants is with one of the new handcrafted trellises that are available by mail. Catalogs carry an impressive array of trellises--from hand-forged metal to woven wood--that are as much a focal point for the garden as a support for plants.

The trellises are extremely simple to use. Most come ready to install: just push the feet into soil next to a wall or in a planter box, plant a vine near them, and wrap the stems around the supports (use plant ties when needed). A few need minor assembly, and two wooden ones without feet need to be anchored to a wall.

Plant low-growing vines, such as dwarf sweet peas, black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata), or small clematis, on the short trellises, and any taller vines on the others. Rampant growers, such as silver lace vine (Polygonum aubertii) and wisteria, should be used only on the large redwood trellis pictured below.

WHIMSICAL TO CASUAL

The woven wooden trellises bring a casual touch to the garden, while the metal ones are generally more formal in appearance. Choose a look that's right for your surroundings.

For a cottage garden of colorful perennials that overflow their beds, consider the English vine trellis or Palladian vine arch. The vine trellis is more secure if attached to a wall; the vine arch, which has three pieces, must be mounted to a wall by nails, screws, or hook-and-loop (Velcro) fasteners.

The reclaimed redwood trellis is part of a modular system that brings a classic French tradition to the garden. As a freestanding trellis with posts, it can be used as a backdrop for roses and perennials. Without the posts, it can be anchored to a wall (use purchased wall brackets).

The metal trellises range from whimsical architectural shapes decorated with urns or points of the compass to traditional ones like the Josephine's fountain antique trellis fashioned by an Arkansas blacksmith.

The architectural trellises, the Josephine's fountain trellis, and the shell trellis are made of steel. Each is finished slightly differently: the architectural trellises are of galvanized steel, the shell trellis is dark with a hardened oil finish, and the antique trellis--also with a hardened oil finish--has been covered with lacquer.

The wrought-iron trellis screen is finished in a dark green weather-resistant epoxy; the Lisbon trellis is of uncoated copper tubing that weathers to a handsome verdigris.

WHERE TO GET TRELLISES

The trellises shown here can be purchased by mail from the catalogs below. Catalogs are free.

Gardeners Eden, Box 7307, San Francisco 94120; (800) 822-9600. Sells the architectural trellises ($48 each) and the wrought-iron screen trellis ($78).

The Natural Gardening Co., 217 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, Calif. 94960; (415) 456-5060. Sells the Palladian vine arch ($95).

Plow & Hearth, Box 830, Orange, Va. 22960; (800) 627-1712. Sells the Lisbon wall trellis ($149).

Smith & Hawken, 2 Arbor Lane, Box 6900, Florence, Ky. 41022; (800) 776-3336. Sells two types of antique trellises ($85 each), the English vine trellis ($32), and components for the redwood trellis system shown ($323; other pieces available).

Wayside Gardens, 1 Garden Lane, Hodges, S.C. 29695; (800) 845-1124. Sells the shell trellis ($39.99).