How to Build a Trellis Panel

A trellis panel is an easy project that will add attractiveness to any garden or backyard, giving support to vines and other flowering plants that will add beauty. A lattice panel trellis is made with a frame made of 2x4 lumber joined with miter joints and corner hardware. The lattice is sandwiched between two 1x1 stops that hold it in place. Once the panel is completed, it can be attached to a wall or secured to posts.

The first thing you need to do is decide on the size of panel you want. Then angle the blade of your circular saw to 45 degrees and cut four pieces of 2x4 to length. You need to build your frame by fastening it together with two No. 8 2-1/2" deck screws at each corner making nice even joints. If you don't want the screws to be visible you need to only attach them from the top or bottom, not the front. In the process of doing this you need to make sure the frame is square. You can do this two ways, either use a framers square or you can measure diagonally from one corner to the other and then opposite, both measurements should be the same to be square. If you don't have square frame your lattice will not fit in correctly. Once the frame is square you should add an angle bracket to the back of the frame for added support.

The next thing you need to do is prepare the frame for the lattice panel to fit inside. Basically you are going to add stops or little pieces of 1x1 lumber to the inside the frame for a place for the lattice to fit. First you need to measure the inside dimensions of the frame and then cut your 1x1 stops to size. It will depend where you put your stops depending on where you want your lattice to sit inside the panel frame. Usually it will go in the middle but you can locate it in the front or back as well. Depending where you want to put your lattice make yourself a spacer to nail your 1x1 up with so it will be consistent all the way around. Once you have found out where your stop is going nail it in with 5d 1-3/4" nails.

Now your are to the prepping of your lattice so it will fit in the frame snugly. You will need to measure the exact size and then trim your lattice panel with your circular saw. You might want to apply some masking tape or some type of thicker tape all the way around where you are going to trim so you will prevent the lattice from splitting. Now you are ready to place the lattice inside the frame on the stops. When you have a good fit with your lattice (you may have to do some trimming) you are ready to place your next set of stops. Simply set the stops on the lattice and fasten them with the same 5d nails. You might want to apply some pressure while fastening so you create a tight fit and your lattice doesn't move around in the frame.

Great, you are ready to hang your panel trellis wherever you want. You can build yourself some stakes and pound them into the ground creating a place to fasten your panel in the middle of open ground. Or you can do what it is made for and fasten it to a will or existing posts. Now you have a place for your vines and other plants to grow. This is a pretty easy project and it doesn't take a lot of time. Another added benefit is that it's very cost affective. Good luck...