Climbing plants can quickly become a tangled mess when they have nothing sturdy to grow up. Instead of letting new spring growth sprawl across garden beds or smother nearby plants, give it direction with a purpose-built support.
Charlie Albone’s elegant garden frame gives climbers somewhere to grow while adding height, colour and structure to your garden. Best of all, it’s surprisingly simple to make yourself.
How to make a climbing frame for your plants
Gather your supplies
- Hardwood garden stakes 25 x 25mm x 1.2m (4) 50 x 50mm x 1.8m (4)
- Marine plywood 1220 x 610 x 18mm
- Wooden fence cap
- Exterior spray paint
- Landscape adhesive
You’ll also need
- Tape measure
- Handsaw
- Drill
- 50mm galvanised screws
- Masking tape
- Spirit level
- Carpenter’s pencil
- 120-grit sandpaper
Here’s how
Step 1
Measure and cut 25 x 25mm stakes into four 60cm lengths with a saw.
Step 2
Lay cut stakes in a square on plywood and temporarily screw together.
Step 3
Position 50 x 50mm stakes at the inside corners and gather the pointed ends at the centre of the square.
Step 4
Wrap stake ends with masking tape, then use a spirit level to mark a line around the tops.
Step 5
Saw off pointed stake ends where marked.
Step 6
Reposition stakes, ensuring tops meet level.
Step 7
Cut a 150 x 150mm plywood square and secure with screws to tripod top.
Step 8
From the base, measure and mark tripod rib positions at about 40, 80, and 120cm.
Step 9
Measure, mark and cut ribs from 25 x 25mm stakes, including those used for frame base square, and screw to tripod.
Step 10
Sand stakes to prepare for painting.
Step 11
Cut 125 x 125mm and 100 x 100mm plywood squares, stacking and glueing on tripod top.
Step 12
Working on a drop sheet in a well-ventilated area, spray-paint tripod and capital. Leave to dry. Glue capital to top square. Position tripod in garden.
Step 13
Plant around your obelisk with the winning colour combo of yellow bidens, deep blue veronica and lilac ptilotus.
For more amazing garden projects, pick up a copy of the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine in selected newsagents and supermarkets or buy online today!
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
