Show Off Beautiful Backyard Blooms With A Garden Obelisk You Can DIY

If you've been researching some climbing plants to grow on your property but aren't sure how you'll support them, then an obelisk may be an easy and elegant addition to your landscape. So what is an obelisk, and why should you add one to your garden? Think of it as a simple structure designed to grow plants vertically — and a great solution for those short on space. To build an attractive obelisk, like the one shared by Ashley Wilson of At Home With Ashley, you only need a few simple materials and a free afternoon.

Assemble your main vertical supports: four lengths of deck balusters that each measure 4 feet. Arrange two pieces of wood so they are 16.5 inches apart at the bottom but come together at a point on top. Secure the top with a deck screw, then repeat for the other two. The tops of the two triangles you just created will eventually lean toward the center to rest against each other to create the obelisk shape.

Before that, though, mark every 12 inches for the rungs. Lateral pieces should be cut to the following lengths, with two pieces of wood for each: 6 inches, 6.5 inches, 9.5 inches, 10 inches, 13 inches, and 13.5 inches. Wilson uses lath boards, but more of the deck balusters would work. Use screws to attach all the short sides (6 inches, 9.5 inches, and 13 inches), then sink the A-frames into a planter or garden bed for stability and screw in the long sides. To complete the look, Wilson recommends adding a decorative finial. "I just like that little bit of decoration," she says.

Buying all the materials brand new for this DIY can add up quickly. Lowe's carries 2-inch cedar balusters, like the ones used in the video, for $4.68 for 4 feet. Plus, 6 feet of wood lath is $18.18. You'll need four of the balusters and two of the wood lath to meet the measures outlined. Add in a box of 1-5/8-inch deck screws and the total cost for building one obelisk comes out to a little over $61. Not exactly the best way to refresh your backyard landscape on a budget, until you consider that a pre-made wooden obelisk of the same size can cost about $100 — like this 46" Cedar Pyramid Trellis from Amazon.

With some creative thinking and an open mind about materials, there are a multitude of possibilities for making this DIY your own and for much cheaper. Scouting out scrap wood at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, online via Facebook Marketplace, or by putting the word out to friends and family are just a few ways to gather materials on the cheap. Old fencing, trim boards, and craft dowels are also options. For a more natural, cottagecore vibe, you could also use fallen branches from your yard, lengths of bamboo, or even source driftwood from the beach.