Building a Vertical Garden Arch
It is only the first of April, but I’m already full speed ahead planning and working on my summer garden plans. We have had some beautiful days in Kentucky, so I’m spending as much time as I can outside getting dirt under my fingernails. I have always planted in traditional rows in the garden but last year I built my first vertical garden arch. I had some scrap cattle panels and metal poles in the barn so this was a cheap project that will create a better-growing environment for my climbing vegetables.
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Building a Vertical Garden Arch
Building a vertical garden arch is not complicated or expensive. If you live on a farm or have access to old storage buildings, you probably already have the supplies you need.
Materials Needed
- Some type of cattle panel or metal wire
- Zip ties
- Metal poles
- T Post Driver (optional)
Directions
The best way to get the metal poles securely in the ground is to use a T-post driver. It’s not necessary but it does make the job easier. If you don’t have a post driver, you can use a hammer or mallet. The T-posts are the strongest poles that are perfect for the vertical arch but you can use any type of pole that is strong enough to support the cattle panels or wireframes.
Decide how far apart you want to space your archway and plant your posts.
Once you have the posts in place, simply attach one side of the cattle panel to the first side of the posts and then bend it over to form the vertical arch. If your panels aren’t long enough to make a complete arch, you can use other smaller pieces to complete the side panels.
Use multiple zip ties to attach your panels to the posts.
*The panels are pretty stiff so it may be easier to have a second person hold the panels while you attach them with the zip ties.
Now that I have my first vertical arch created, I think I’m going to expand and use some other pieces from the barn. I can’t wait to get my green beans and cucumbers growing the trellises. I’m even thinking about growing lettuce or brussel sprouts in the shaded areas under the arch.
Now I just have to wait till it’s warm enough to get the ground ready for planting. Have you ever used vertical arches like this? Got any tips for a great growing season? I’d love to hear!
