5 Bamboo Trellises Gardeners Need to Know About

What Are Bamboo Trellises?

While there are many types of trellises made of different materials like metal, wood, and plastic, today we'll talk about trellises made of a super popular and sustainable material: bamboo.

Bamboo is lightweight, sturdy, and the perfect material for trellises. It's easy to store and carry all by yourself, making it great for beginners just testing out where to grow your plants.

Trellises support vegetation as they grow by keeping leaves and fruits off the ground so they can grow straight without battling other plants for sunlight.

It also provides plenty of vertical space, which is excellent for small gardens and adds shape to your outdoor space.

Comparing the Most Popular Trellis Materials

There are a variety of materials to make trellises. Today, we're going to break down each one so you can decide which material you'd like to use in your garden.

Let's kick it off with bamboo.

Bamboo

As you already know, bamboo is lightweight and sturdy, which is the perfect pairing making it easy to move and sturdy enough, so it doesn't break under the weight of your fruits and vegetables.

Bamboo's warm colors and tones blend seamlessly into the garden and maintain a natural feel in the space.

Its flexible nature makes it easy to create unique shapes to add fun to your garden while supporting your plants.

One of the biggest differences between bamboo and other materials is its sustainability. Bamboo grows 4-7 times faster than trees and produces more timber. This means we can get more bamboo and less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

If we moved to use bamboo more, we wouldn't have to cut down as many trees that take decades for it to grow until it's ready to be cut and used.

It also decomposes faster than metal or plastic trellis, which can take centuries to break down.

While bamboo is great, there are a few things that you need to consider. Bamboo is sturdy, but depending on the heaviness of the bamboo trellis and how thick the bamboo wood is, it can break under a hefty harvest.

Lastly, it's a plant, too, so insects might eat it up if not protected with varnish.

Tree Wood

Tree wood is a classic material for trellises.

Because wood is so common, many beautiful wood trellises designs exist.

Like bamboo, it looks natural in the garden, and it can decompose over time and become one with nature again.

Tree wood is also extremely sturdy and can handle heavy crops. On the flip side, to support large plants, wood trellises are heavy and difficult for one person to move around on their own.

Also, tree wood isn't a sustainable material because it takes a lot of resources and time to grow until it's available to use.

Metal

Metal trellises are one of the sturdiest options out there.

It is a solid and heavy material that can withstand large cucumbers, tomatoes, and other heavy vegetables. However, like wood, it's heavy to move around on your own.

Metal trellises are common because their metal can be molded into a variety of beautiful and intricate designs with different finishes. This is great for someone who wants a clean look in their garden because it adds a nice juxtaposition to the greens and vines of plants.

On the flip side, in old horror movies, you often see metal trellises in abandoned and dilapidated gardens. Not that metal trellis make your garden look scary, but it can make your garden not feel as warm and welcoming as wood or bamboo.

When it comes to metal trellises, it's important to consider if you'd like a rusted trellis years later. Metal is sturdy, but when exposed to the elements for a long time, it can rust and become orange.

Plastic

Plastic trellises can be a great intro tool for new gardeners and planters. It's affordable and easy to clean up and toss away.

It's also lightweight and great for small plants that don't need heavy lifting. If you're looking for heavy lifting trellis, we don't recommend plastic because it's not as sturdy as bamboo, wood, or metal, and it's easy to break and difficult to repair.

However, it does stand up against the elements and doesn't rust over time.

Lastly, plastic isn't sustainable and stays in our landfills for centuries. If you're looking for an affordable option, plastic works. But if you're looking to save money down the line, we recommend going with other materials on the list.

Reused and Recycled Materials

Last, but definitely not least, reusing and recycling what you have is the most sustainable option out there.

Using old wood, metal wires, twine, or anything else is a low-cost, eco-friendly, and creative way to support your plants.

What to Consider When Buying a Bamboo Trellis

When it comes to buying a bamboo trellis, there are two important things to keep in mind: the weight of the plants and where your trellis will be in your garden. With these two factors in mind, you’ll find the perfect trellis for you and your crops.

Weight of Plants

If you're looking to work supporting heavy plants like squash, cucumbers, or tomatoes, look into getting heavy-duty bamboo trellises. If you get a thin one, it can break from the weight of the fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, if you're growing climbing vines, you won't need as heavy of a trellis to support them.

Location of Trellis

Location matters.

With all the trellises available, think of where you want yours to be. By the wall? Freestanding? In the soil?

This can depend on the plants you're planning to grow or where your plants are in the garden.

If you're looking for a freestanding trellis, you can get an arbor that acts as a doorway.

Teepee trellises are another great option because they are freestanding and plants can grow and wrap around them.

For trellises inside the house, you want something lightweight and easy to stick into the soil, so it doesn't take more room than it needs to support your plants.

If you're looking to get a wall trellis, try not to have it flush against your home wall. It can damage the structure of your wall due to excess moisture from the plant.

How to Use a Bamboo Trellis

Potted Plants

Both indoor and outdoor potted plants can benefit from using a bamboo trellis.

Most potted plants grow and spill over the pot and can get damaged or look sad and droopy. If that's not what you're going for, you'll want to use a trellis.

A trellis guides the plant and supports it to grow upwards until it's strong enough to support itself.

If the plant pours over the pot, it can be damaged or stepped on. Also, the leaves can crowd and cover up the soil, which can cause excessive moisture and lead to soil diseases.

Outdoor Gardens

When used in outdoor gardens, trellises are often used as a base for vines and climbing plants to grow on. Climbing vines can wrap around the trellis, making the structure beautifully green while dimensioning and shaping the garden.

Arbors, a type of trellis covered with plants, can act as a doorway as people enter your garden or home. It can be covered with growing flowers or plants to add a touch of nature.

If you have lots of garden space, you can use a trellis as a fence to create separation between the sitting area and the garden. As vines or climbing plants grow, they can cover the trellis and provide more privacy.

Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peas, and More!

Aside from the outdoor decor, trellises are most commonly known for supporting homegrown vegetables and fruits such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, and squash.

Tall, long trellises are often used for these vegetables because it helps them grow while taking up less space.

If you didn't know, some vines and plants are territorial. By giving a large amount of space to grow upwards and wind around, they won't overtake your other vegetation and steal their sunlight.

For plants, leaves are vital for photosynthesis to capture energy from the sun. By keeping the leaves up and exposing them, the plant gets more sunlight to grow fruit.

Keeping leaves and fruits up protects your crops because they are less likely to bruise or get stepped on.

As for harvesting, a trellis makes it easy for you to see which tomato or cucumber is ready to be picked.

Best Bamboo Trellises