Wisteria is an aggressive grower that can overwhelm weaker structures with its weight. [2] X Research source For longevity, use a hardwood that won’t rot easily, like white oak or mahogany. [3] X Research source If you’re having difficulty finding boards the right size, cut them using a power tool, like a circular saw.
For example, if you are planning to have a trellis that’s 4 ft (120 cm) wide, place your boards on the ground lengthwise 4 ft (120 cm) from each other.
To make this trellis even stronger, apply a generous layer of wood glue between the horizontal and vertical boards. This square frame trellis will be mounted directly onto your wall. Some people prefer to build trellises that dig into the earth as well—if that is the case for you, attach the bottom horizontal board at 1/3rd of the way up from the bottom of the vertical boards so there are legs on your trellis.
If you applied wood glue to the pieces of your trellis, give it time to cure before drilling—this may take up to 24 hours.
Be sure that the 2 horizontal boards from the frame are sticking out above the rest of the frame—if the vertical boards of the frame are resting on them, flip the trellis over before marking it. If you would like to make a trellis with additional horizontal boards, mark locations at 1/4th or 1/5th intervals instead.
This trellis will be stronger if you apply a layer of wood glue between the horizontal boards and the frame before screwing them in. If you apply wood glue, wait 24 hours for it to cure before screwing in the boards.
Your trellis should have all of its horizontal boards (including the frame) level with each other, and all of its vertical boards level with each other (also including the frame).
If you would like to make a larger trellis with more vertical boards, try marking locations every 1/4th or 1/5th of the board’s length, rather than every 1/3rd.
For added strength, apply a generous layer of wood glue to the trellis first. Wait 24 hours for the glue to cure, then screw the vertical boards into the frame.
Wisteria grows best when exposed to plenty of light. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, choose a south or west-facing wall. In the southern hemisphere, pick a north or east-facing wall.
To cut the pipe, you can use either a pipe cutter or a saw. The number of PVC pipe segments you’ll need depends on how many holes you plan on placing in your trellis—if you plan on drilling 10 holes, cut 10 pipe segments.
There are several different types of wisteria. While Chinese and Japanese wisteria are very popular, these species are invasive in North America. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is a good alternative if you live in North America. [18] X Research source
