Climbing trellis planter box from rebar mesh—let plants climb on both sides to add extra privacy
Turn rebar mesh and decking boards into a raised planter box for climbers and edibles. As summer goes on, the plants cover the mesh, creating a lovely privacy screen.
Climbing trellis planter box – materials:
- 6 mm rebar mesh and wire
- Decking boards (e.g. 28 × 120 mm), 20 m
- 48 × 48 mm batten, 2 m
- 15 mm dowel, 1 m
- Brown decking screws 4.2 × 45 mm and 4.2 × 55 mm
- Angle grinder and sander or sandpaper
- Saw, drill, and driver
- 15 mm drill bit
- Side cutters, pliers, square, tape measure, and pencil
- 80 cm balcony planter box
Climbing trellis planter box – instructions:
1. Use an angle grinder to cut two 6 × 11‑square pieces and two 1 × 11‑square pieces from the mesh. Place the end pieces inside the side pieces and tie the mesh together here and there with wire to form a box.
2. Cut ten 102 cm decking boards for the sides and ten 18 cm boards for the ends. Sand the cut edges. Rip six strips from the decking boards, 55 cm long and just under 6 cm wide, to use as cleats for assembling the ends.
3. Lay the end boards face down on a flat surface. Measure diagonally to square the panel. Position three 55 cm cleats near the top edge and screw them in place. Build the second end the same way. Add cleats along the bottom edge to support the base boards.
4. Place two side boards face to face and drill three 15 mm holes through both boards at matching positions: one in the center, the outer holes 15 cm from each end. Drill straight, perpendicular to the board.
5. Stand the side boards on the ends and square the frame with diagonal measurements. Fasten the boards at the ends with two screws each. Add the second side the same way. Assemble a 17 cm‑wide bottom board using cleats and drop it into place. Set the mesh box inside the wooden frame.
6.Tap the 25 cm dowels into the holes and trim them flush with the boards. If your plants need a deeper soil bed, knock the dowels out, line the bottom with a trash bag, and fill the box with potting gravel and soil.
7.Lay a board across the dowels to support the planter. Cut one horizontal bar off the end of the mesh so the balcony planter will slide in. If the planter is still too wide, trim its sides with the angle grinder.
Tip!
If you’re using boards of a different thickness, start by building the mesh box, then make the end panels and use them to measure the exact length for the side boards. Check the photo above for reference.
8.Cut four 38 cm legs from 48 × 48 mm lumber. Attach the legs with five screws each. A box made of pressure‑treated wood doesn’t need extra protection, but untreated boards should be finished with a tinted wood oil.
