How to Build an A-Frame Garden Trellis

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Even as a first-year gardener, I knew that pole beans would give me higher yields, and besides, they looked so pretty in the pictures! I also knew I needed a garden trellis!

Several years later, I couldn’t be happier with my set-up, and if you want a sturdy garden trellis for pole beans that will serve your needs season after season, keep reading!

First Design: Bamboo Tent-Style Garden Trellis

Before I settled on my trusty a-frame garden trellis, I tried to build a bamboo trellis. A friend graciously brought me some bamboo from her land, and I constructed a bamboo tepee/trellis.

Just looking at it, I’m expecting it to fall down in the picture any time now.

Bamboo Garden Trellis

And sure enough, one big storm huffed and puffed and blew the whole thing down. My husband came to my rescue and figured out a way to get it back up and functional for the season.

Second Design: A-Frame Garden Trellis

My husband knew if my gardening hobby continued, I had no business constructing my pole bean trellis for my second season. That’s when he created two A-frame garden trellises so sturdy that summer storms don’t make them flinch.

A-Frame Garden Trellis | Journey with Jill

A-Frame Bean Trellis | Journey with Jill

I grow pole beans on these two trellises each year, and I have also grown peas as an early crop before the beans go in. It works well for both.

Pole Bean Garden Trellis | Journey with Jill

Pea Garden Trellis | Journey with Jill

My favorite part is the harvest. My kids even enjoy venturing under the trellis and picking the beans at their level.

Pole Beans Picking with Kids

Then, at the end of the season, we strip the vines from the twine (or I just wait until the spring when they’re easier to strip. I chose to use bailing twine because it can be used from season to season. But for a cheaper option, string or twine can be used.

Garden Trellis End of Season

I practice crop rotation, and my husband and I move both trellises every season. Though they are sturdy, they are not too heavy for the two of us to move together.

Can you tell I love my A-frame trellis?

How to Build an A-Frame Garden Trellis

One year, an Instagram follower asked me about my trellis she saw in the background of a photo I posted. I realized that others would benefit from this easy-to-construct option, especially those of you wanting to grow pole beans. So I asked my husband where he got the design.

I knew my husband was handy, but I had no idea that he created this design on his own.  I talked with him about how he built it, and together we came up with simple step-by-step construction plans. Better yet, not counting the string you buy, the materials should cost less than $50.

If you’d like to build your own A-frame garden trellis, enter your e-mail address below and I’ll send you the 4-step building plans. (If form doesn’t appear, click here.)

All you need is lumber, screws, and a few basic tools.

And if you build your own, please come back here and tell me about it! Or post it on Instagram and tag me @thebeginnersgarden.

Looking for other garden trellis ideas? Click here for more trellis ideas for beans, peas, cucumbers, and more.

 

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21 Comments

  1. Can they be placed on raised bed and if so At what height raised bed would you not use an A= ie frame- stability factor

    1. I believe this could be safely placed on a 10″ or less raised bed. The only concern I’d have is the height. I have to jump to reach my highest beans as it is, so if you add it to a raised bed,I’d recommend making it shorter.

  2. Hi, Got the A Frame plan. Thank you. Just wanted to point out a small error, I think. In the 1st step it says Place 3
    additional pieces vertically on top of the
    first piece, two at each end and one in
    the middle.
    I think it should read one at each end, not two.
    Thanks again, John

  3. I just built 3 of these and they turned out great! I can’t wait until they are covered in beans. Thank you for sharing the plans!

    1. I’ve never grown this plant so I wouldn’t know. But with the A-frame you can use both horizontal and vertical string to support many types of climbing plants.

  4. Wife is new to this gardening thing. Am looking for ideas to build her a green been trellis and yours looks interesting. and buildable for a reasonable cost. Will an area of 2′ x 4′ be big enough? I think she has around 36 been seeds? Thanks for the plans and any comment/suggestions in advance

    1. The 2×4 would not be big enough for this A-Frame trellis. It requires about a 10×10 space. A 2×4 area would be big enough for beans she has. If they are pole beans, you need to provide some kind of support, perhaps a smaller A-frame or a vertical section of livestock panel. With bush beans, they don’t need support.

  5. Just discovered your website/blog and podcast – love! Am looking to grow smaller pumpkins and gourds on a trellis. What would you recommend for them to grow up? (Twine would not be strong enough…) Any thoughts/suggestions/advice would be very much appreciated! THANKS SO MUCH!

    1. Hi Kristin, although I haven’t grown pumpkins on a trellis, I did grow cantaloupes and honeydews last year. They grew up livestock panel trellis, and I used a hammock with them made out of old pantyhose to keep them secure as they grew. It worked great!

  6. I was curious about the treated lumber. Is there anything in it that would be harmful to the beans? I think I’ve read that treated lumber shouldn’t be used for raised beds because of leeching chemicals. But I’ve read so much over the past couple of years that I could be confused or dreaming things up. 🙂

    1. I have used treated lumber with my trellis and raised beds for almost a decade. Everything I’ve read about treated lumber has led me to believe the risk is minimal. Most likely, if anything leached in any noticeable amounts, you’d notice a problem in the plants. I never have. Everyone has their own comfort level with this, though, so I’d recommend researching yourself. Personally, I’m pretty picky about what I allow in my garden, but modern treated lumber at this point in time does not concern me.

  7. hello jill, at which orientation did you have these positioned? was it an east-west or north-south? i’m in dallas and seeing sun most in south side of my backyard would be east-west to see most sun. wondering if the other side of the “A” would be shaded more than the other. do you have any experience in amount of sun hitting the other side? thank you

  8. Built the trellis this year.I have in the past made some that were too flimsy, too short, with netting that sagged with the weight and one that a downburst of wind snapped the post that was holding up half the trellis in 2. I am 75 and by myself, so once I got them built on the ground I could not pick them up. My nephew came over and helped me finish. I am very excited to see how everything goes this year. Thanks.

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