Rustic Rebar Trellis for Narrow Planting Strips

Bare garage walls with skinny planting strips are a common challenge, but landscape architect Christy Ten Eyck found an industrial-chic solution for a home in Maricopa County, Arizona. Instead of a conventional wood trellis, she used 7½-foot lengths of 5/8-inch-thick rebar to support Lady Banks' roses.

The rebar pieces were evenly spaced a few inches apart, driven 15 inches into the ground, and permanently anchored with a concrete footing. A horizontal segment of rebar welded across the vertical pieces stabilizes the upper structure (1/4-inch wire woven through would also work). One rose was planted on each side of the trellis.

The result is a durable, low-maintenance support structure with a raw, rustic aesthetic that complements the desert landscape and provides ample room for vigorous climbers.

DESIGN: Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Phoenix (602/468-0505)