Why You Should Use A Trellis To Give Your Plants Support

Are your vining houseplants struggling to grow long and luscious? Do you have vegetables in your garden rotting on the ground before they can ripen? The solution to your problem is easier than you think. A trellis is a wood framework used to hold plants upright, according to Fiskars. It has a lattice pattern for plant vines to grow around and can be stuck into the ground or attached to a fence.

Using a trellis for your houseplants or in your garden helps your plants flourish and adds to your space's design. Trellises come in a variety of different styles. There is the typical lattice style or grid patterns if you want a more modern look. They usually consist of wood, which can be stained or painted to match your decor. A trellis is even helpful if you need more privacy in your yard. Once your plant grows over it, you have a beautiful wall to block your yard from nosy neighbors.

The main benefit when using a trellis to support your plants is that it gives them a place to latch onto and grow. When vining plants grow vertically, their leaves have more space to get sunlight, according to Tierra Sol. This extra sunlight gives plants energy to grow taller. Popular houseplants like pothos, philodendrons, and monsteras are tropical plants that climb up trees as they grow in the wild (via Plantscapers). Adding a trellis to their pot will mimic this environment so they can grow their leafy vines.

Vegetable gardens can also benefit from a trellis. The University of Minnesota Extension explains that produce that lies on the ground has a higher chance of disease. It's more likely to rot and become infested by bugs. Vining plants like peas, beans, squash, and cucumbers can be attached to a trellis to prevent this. Then the plants will benefit from more sunlight and ripen on the vine without interference.

Luckily, using a trellis isn't very difficult. First, you want to untangle your plant's vines and decide where is the best spot to place the trellis. If you're adding it to a potted plant, it's best to put it in the back of the pot or the middle. For a garden, you'll want to add it behind your plant, but make sure it's facing south for the sun to shine on the vegetation, per Gardeners by Trade.

To put the trellis in, hold it upright, and push the legs into the soil until they can't go any further. Then lift the vines of your plant and gently weave them around the trellis. Now is your chance to guide your plant to grow how you see fit. If your plant is still small, you can use plant ties or clips to attach it to the trellis, according to Mulhall's. Make sure to leave room for growth, and your plant is ready to climb.