Tag Page Trellis

the trellis mistake most beginners make (and how i learned the hard way)

Two summers ago, a storm took down my entire cucumber trellis. I had built it from thin bamboo poles — it looked cute, Instagram-worthy… and totally useless against wind. A retired contractor at work laughed and said, “Build it like you’re building for a toddler — strong enough to survive climbing and chaos.” Here’s the version that’s worked flawlessly: Use EMT metal conduit (cheap, lightweight, never rots). Bend it with a $40 pipe bender into a stable arch. Anchor with rebar hammered into the ground. Netting goes on last, zip-tied tight. It survived two storms, 40 mph gusts, and a whole summer of cucumber overload. Now my neighbors ask me to build theirs too. Pretty Instagram trellises are cute… but sturdy ones give you actual vegetables. #Gardening #Trellis