DIY Your Own Tented Trellis For A Unique Garden Oasis

Want to create your own unique garden oasis or living tented hideaway you can relax in when you just need a bit of peace and quiet? With only a few simple supplies and some sweet pea or pole bean seeds, you can easily DIY a teepee-style arbor to create a cool, relaxing space in your backyard. This type of bower is the perfect spot to relax with a good book on a warm summer's day or even a secret play area for the kids to enjoy. And don't be surprised if you find your dog enjoying the cooling shade while you're not using it. While this is relatively novel, you might also want to explore other trellis ideas to maximize your outdoor space.

The easiest way to DIY this tented trellis is to collect some bamboo canes that are around 7 feet in length. Arrange them in a teepee style or semicircle and push the bottoms into the soil. Then, bring the tops together and tie them with string or garden twine, like you would if you were creating a tomato cage. You'll also want to fashion some horizontal supports for the plants to cling to as they climb. This can be easily done using string. Just tie horizontal string lines around the canes, around 6 inches or so apart, and don't forget to leave an opening for the entry. Once you have your framework in place, it's time to put the plants in.

For a lovely scented floral sanctuary, like Instagramer, Lara Winter has done in the clip, consider planting sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) over your trellis. These flowering annuals are available in many colors. Choose climbing varieties such as 'Royal Family' or 'Old Spice Mix.' These are best planted from seed in early spring, or you might want to start them indoors earlier. They make excellent cut flowers, and deadheading is encouraged to stop the seed pods from developing, as this will reduce flowering. Just keep in mind that the seeds are toxic, so it's advisable not to plant these with edible varieties if you have kids who are going to play in the tent. 

Another option is to turn your hideaway into a feasting oasis by planting pole bean (Phaseolus coccineus). The best time of year to plant these natural climbers is in spring after all danger of frost has passed. The added advantage is that you can harvest the beans for your evening meal. Plus, you might be pretty surprised (and delighted) to find your kids snacking on the crisp pods while they're out there playing in the tent. Once again, it's wise to plant the seeds directly into the ground as they'll germinate readily and establish a stronger root system for lots of growth. As these will grow quite quickly, they should cover the structure entirely within just a couple of months. Of course, there are lots of other plants perfect for use with a trellis, which you may want to consider.