Vertical Gardening: Amp up your Garden with this Tepee Trellis Idea

Summer is in full swing and the garden is finally starting to grow.  If you are like me and tight on growing space, this post is for you.  Cucumbers and Pole beans are some of my favorite things to grow, however they tend to easily spread and take over everything.

This year, I have decided to add vertical gardening to my skill set and let the beans and cucumbers climb a trellis.  This is not just any trellis, however. This is a tepee trellis.

Yep, not only are we going to have a great climbing garden, but also a fun hangout for the kids.

This cucumber tepee trellis is incredibly easy to make. If you already have cucumber seeds, it is basically free.

Check out the best way to start seeds here.

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Here is what you will need to make a Tepee Trellis:

• Branches or Bamboo
• Twine
• Dirt
• Compost
• Seeds or Plants

How to make your own Vertical Gardening Tepee Trellis:

After gathering your supplies, Draw a semi-circle in the soil where you will be adding your tepee trellis.  Your trellis can be whatever size you would like.  If you are planning on making it so people can enter, be sure to make it wide enough for them to fit.

Alternatively, you can make a tepee trellis out of potted plants. For this, you will skip the last step and simply start placing your poles.

Arrange your Sticks around the Outer Edge

Once you know where your tepee is going to go, place your sticks on the line and lean them against each other so they stand up. 

Keep laying out your posts until you are happy with your tepee’s shape.

Make sure you ay attention to the height, if you are planning to allow visitors inside. You will be digging your sticks into the ground, so taller is better.

Also leave room for a big opening in the front.

Dig the Posts in to the Soil

Once everything is where you want it, dig your sticks into the ground so they are study and secure. I dug mine about 4 inches down.  Our soil is basically clay, so I am confident it will hold.

Tie the Tops

Now that everything is dug and in place, it is time to tie the tops together.  I used twine to weave in and out of the branches and tightly tie them together. 

Add Twine for your Vegetables to Climb

As a final step, I used twine to add levels and areas for our vegetables to grab on to.  Starting at the top from the entrance, I simply would a piece of twine around each pole, ending at the opposite side.  I went down about 6 inches and added another and a few more, until I felt there was enough levels for the cucumbers to easily climb.

Dig a Trench and Plant your Vegetables 

Now it is time to plant your cucumbres, beans or other climbing plant.  If you are planting seeds, you can add them around the perimeter of your teppe.

If you are adding plants, add them near the posts and spread the plant up onto the trellis.

I started my cucumber seeds indoors.  To plant them, I added a layer of compost before adding them in the garden.

The Finished Vertical Gardening Tepee Trellis:

Repeat this Process with other Vegetables that need Support.

I was so happy with my tepee trellis (plus I had left over sticks after  a tree breaking snow storm)  that I continued on to create tomato cages out of sticks. 

For my DIY tomato cage trellis, I basically did the exact same thing as the tepee trellis, in a different shape. 

Rather than try an explain the shape, I will show you a picture:

Once again, the sticks are tied together with twine and I added multi levels to support the plants.

My tomatoes, were large enough to weave in and out of the strings so they can be supported when they start growing their fruit. 

And now for the sad news:

After I finished planting everything, a huge hailstorm came and attacked my new transplants.  The tomatoes made it, but I am sad to report, that all of my cucumbers died.  I have planted seeds in the ground in hopes that there is enough time for them to grow. 

I don’t know how I always manage to do that.

Luckily my continuous blooming perennial garden seems to be just fine.

Conclusion

These DIY trellises are unique and pleasing to the eye.  I love the tepee trellis and hope that it fills out nicely with some new vegetables. If you are just starting out in your garden, check out this guide to ever-blooming perennials for blooms all summer long and these budget friendly outdoor decorating ideas. Also, this DIY arch would make another attractive trellis!

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