Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South Jersey, Garden State. This was originally posted on May 13, 2012.Some folks pound rebar into the soil and just slip the conduit over it. See alternate instructions.
Ok... for one 5 wide x 6 feet (or more) tall trellis you need:
(2) 1/2" x 10 ft lengths of EMT electrical conduit (metal) (3 pcs if using rebar)
(2) EMT inside corner fittings (photo)
(2) EMT straight fittings (photo) (not reqd if using rebar)
nylon netting, 5 wide cut to about 6 long
http://www.burpee.com/product/gardening+supplies/garden+growing/garden+trellis+netting++-+5%27+x+60%27.do?search=basic&keyword=trellis+netting&sortby=newArrivals&page=1a tubing cutter or hack saw
screw driver
1- Cut the both conduits in half so you have (4) 5 lengths... now cut one piece in half to give you (2) 2 1/2 pieces. I got the conduit and fittings at Lowes, but Home Depot or other electrical supply will carry them. If youre real nice, they might even cut the 10 conduits to 5 so they fit in your car. Wink
2- Weave a 5 top section through the top of the netting and attach the 2 corner fittings.
3- Take a 2 1/2 piece and weave it up the side of the netting, starting at the bottom of the net. Holding onto the netting so it doesnt slip off, attach the short tube to the corner fitting. Push the netting up to keep it from sliding off. Do the same thing to the other side with the other short piece of tubing.
4- Hammer flat one end of the 2 remaining 5 pieces ( it will help it sink into the earth easier).
5- Put 2 Earthboxes end-to end. Hammer one 5 tube into the ground a inch from the end of the EB. Measure 5 feet away, and pound the other piece into the ground. I use a piece of 2x4 to hammer on so I wont mutilate the end of the tubing. I also have soft soil, so I can go quite deep (18" or so). If you cant go that deep, you may want to cut some off the tubes to shorten them or else youll have a trellis thats way too high.
6- Assemble the top of the trellis (with the netting still pushed up) to the legs using the straight connectors. Push the netting down, and voila, youre done!
ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS
1- Instead of the 2 straight fittings, buy 2 pcs rebar, either 3/8" or 1/2", 3 ft long. Make sure it fits inside the conduit.
2- Instead of 3 pcs of 5 ft lg conduit, for the sides you will need 2 pcs 7 ft lg (or whatever height you want your trellis)
3- pound the rebar into the ground as deep as you can for it to be secure, 5 ft apart centered on the 2 Earthbox ends.
4- Weave the netting sides onto the two long conduits, then attach the sides to the corner fittings on the top piece. Slip the whole thing over the rebar.
Hope this helps
Mickie
