Sunday, February 14, 2010

Bean trellis

Bean Trellis
One great thing about pruning waterspouts (tall, vertical branches) off of your trees is that these can be used to make great trellises for peas and beans. The photo above is a bean "tee pee" style trellis I built in about an hour in my yard. I will use it for pea or beans this season. For right now, it is curing in my garage. It will probably just last the season, but it is a nice alternative to actually buying something! You can take more time to make it more attractive, but it will look pretty good once it is covered in vines. I have also used these for annual flowering vines and that looks pretty too! I tied the branches off with black twine- waxed twine (the kind used for bamboo fencing) would probably last longer. For peas, you can also push three long, vertical branches into the ground and tie the three together at the top to make a triangular trellis, then push other, smaller sticks around the base (this might not be sturdy enough for vigorous beans vines).

Happy gardening!
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4 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 18, 2010 at 10:15 AM

    If you have any brush nearby, teepee trellises can be made inexpensively with a machete. Just chop off the sapling/branch and use the machete to carve a stake. Speaking of machetes, MacheteSpecialists.com has a ton of different types of machetes from all over the globe for sale for use by survivalists, gardeners, campers, farmers, etc... If you have a specific use, this machete styles page helps you find the perfect machete.

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  2. Judy ThomasFebruary 19, 2010 at 7:57 AM

    Thanks for your recommendation. A machete would not work for me. I do not have the arm strength to use them and prefer pruning shears and loping shears. I also use trimmings from my trees to build trellises and these cannot be carefully pruned with a machete. Overall, I try to be a "gardening minimalist" and avoid buying a new tool when one I already have will do the job....but it sounds like this tool works for you!

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  3. Steena HolmesFebruary 20, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    Oh I love this idea! I'll get my hubby to make me some of these!

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  4. Judy ThomasFebruary 21, 2010 at 10:07 AM

    Hi Steena,
    It is incredibly easy to built these trellises, no experience necessary. If you get one built, take a photo and I will post it!
    Judy

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