Last Updated on December, 2024
A trellis is a durable framework of interwoven wood, metal, or other materials added to a garden fence. Enhancing your garden borders with a trellis offers many advantages.
This article will discuss the pros of adding trellis fencing on top of a garden fence. We’ll also throw in some installation tips, such as adding a trellis to an existing fence and a new fence.
Let’s dive in.
Quick Summary
- Adding a trellis provides a structure for climbing plants, enhancing the visual appeal of the garden with vertical greenery. It allows for decorative customization, from hanging baskets to bird feeders.
- Trellises allow sunlight and airflow through their open design, which supports healthy plant growth, reduces mildew, and creates a pleasant atmosphere in the garden.
- A trellis on top of a fence increases privacy by blocking unsightly views and adds security, making it more challenging for intruders to climb over the fence.
What are the Benefits of Adding Fence Top Trellis?
Fence-top trellis has become a popular way to add visual interest to fences among many Australian homeowners.
Here are some of the key benefits of adding fence top trellis:
Supports Climbing Plants
One benefit of a trellis is that it can support climbing plants. The trellis panels provide an excellent structure for hanging basket brackets and plants like roses, ivy, honeysuckle, and other attractive flowers, adding vertical interest to gardens.
A trellis will train plants to grow vertically, creating a beautiful, natural extension of your fence. It also helps plants grow healthily by offering a stable surface to cling to, encouraging fuller foliage.
Lets Light in
Trellis panels allow sunlight to pass through its open framework, ensuring your garden remains bright and airy.
The sunlight also helps your plants grow healthily, maintaining a pleasant environment. The dappled light that filters through a fence top trellis can create a charming, serene atmosphere.
Increases Airflow
A fence top trellis increases airflow as the gaps in the trellis design allow wind to pass through, which helps prevent mould and mildew growth on your plants and fence.
This enhanced ventilation also keeps your garden area fresher and is beneficial to plant health, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Disguises Unsightly Areas
If your fence boundary is in an area you’d prefer to keep out of sight, a fence top trellis can help hide it.
As climbers cover the trellis, they can create a green curtain that effectively hides less attractive views, such as neighbouring properties, sheds, or utility areas.
Adds Security
Adding trellis toppers to the top section of fences can deter potential intruders and create a boundary between you and your neighbours.
The added height makes it more challenging to climb over the fence, and the lattice structure can be difficult to navigate without damaging the trellis or the foliage growing on it.
This added security can give you greater peace of mind.
Decorative
Beyond its practical benefits, a trellis is also a beautiful decorative element.
You can choose from various styles and materials to match your garden’s suitable aesthetic and even adorn it with add-ons like bird feeders, hanging baskets, and other decorative items to make your fencing more appealing.
Painting is also a good way to add flair to your garden, creating the perfect combination with your decorations. The possibilities are endless, and the only limit is your imagination.
Useful guides:
Installation Tips
Before you add a trellis to your fencing, consider the following tips:
- Ensure Stability: Before installing your trellis, verify that the fence (especially the fence posts) is firmly anchored and in solid condition.
- Select Appropriate Fixings: Choose weather-resistant screws or brackets that can hold the weight and material of the trellis.
- Plan For Maintenance Access: Ensure you have easy access to the back of the trellis for tasks like painting, repairs, replacing, and vegetation upkeep.
How to Add Trellis to an Existing Fence?
Start by measuring the length and height of your fence to determine how much trellis you need. Purchase trellis panels that match your fence’s material and style.
- Before installation, ensure your fence is sturdy, especially the posts. Reinforce any weak spots to support the additional weight.
- Attach the trellis panels using weather-resistant screws or brackets.
- Secure one side properly, then level the panel before securing the other.
It’s essential to leave a small gap between the fence’s top and the trellis’s bottom to allow for expansion and contraction with weather changes.
For taller trellis installation, consider adding extra posts for support. Once the trellis is in place, you can decorate it however you wish to match the aesthetic of your garden, lawn, or patio.
How to Add Trellis to a New Fence?
First, select the type of trellis that complements your fence’s design and material for your garden. Measure the fence’s length and height to determine the dimensions of the trellis panels you’ll need.
Start with the construction of your fence, ensuring the posts are securely attached and evenly spaced. While you install the fence, you can add extra height to the posts to accommodate the trellis.
Once the fence is in place, position the trellis panels on top. Use weather-resistant screws or brackets to attach the panels, securing one end and making sure they are level before moving on to the opposite end. Repeat this process until each panel is secured.
FAQs
Conclusion
A trellis offers several benefits. It supports climbing vegetation, enhances garden aesthetics, increases privacy and security, and allows light and airflow. It is a great design choice for gardens.
