How to make a trellis from hazel poles

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 at 3:00 pm

Create a rustic trellis with hazel poles, to support clematis, ivy and other climbers, with the help of our step-by-step guide.

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Making a naturalistic trellis from hazel poles is easy, and it'll save you money, too.

Hazel-pole trellis looks beautiful in it's own right and shows off your climbing plants to perfection. It oozes rustic charm, adding interest to a drab wall or fence. You can also use hazel to create a wigwam support for clematis, or use other plants like willow, to create willow plant supports or willow edging.

Follow our step-by-step guide, below, to create your own hazel trellis.

You Will Need

Hazel poles (1.8m), seven
Sisal rope (6mm), 75cm rope per 30cm depth of screen
Saw
Drill
Wood drill bit (7mm)

Step 1

Cut the rods to about 1.8m long. There's no need to be too precise - irregularity is part of the rustic charm. Find the mid-point of each rod and measure 65cm in both directions. Mark these two points and drill a hole at each. This ensures the ropes will be vertical whatever length the poles are.

Step 2

Attach two lengths of sisal rope to the wall or fence 1.3m apart. One by one, thread the hazel poles on to the rope, tying a simple knot in both lengths of rope after each one. To finish off, tie a knot under the final rod and cut off the excess.

Hang this vertically from a pergola for privacy, shade or even to hide an unpleasant view. Stretched over the beams of a pergola it makes a shady roof.