How wide should a cattle panel trellis be?

Plus, the openings—measuring from 4 to 8 inches—are large enough to easily reach through to harvest your crops. Cattle panels range between 8 and 16 feet wide and are usually 50 inches tall, allowing them to cover a large area and be used in a variety of ways in the garden.

What can I grow on a cattle panel arch?

Cattle panels, available online and at farm supply stores, are a simple, affordable way to keep plants off the ground and away from foraging critters and soil-borne diseases. Many favorite vegetable plants — such as tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, melons, and squash — need a little help standing tall.

Which direction should trellis face?

Another question I get asked a lot is about the orientation of the trellises. Any structure is going to block sun, but if you run trellises north to south , they block it less.

Are cattle panels easy to bend?

Made of 4-gauge galvanized metal, these panels won't rust and are really sturdy. With a little muscle, you can bend them for more great applications in the garden. They are pretty much the ideal balance of strength and flexibility.

How deep do posts need to be for trellis?

As a general rule, the posts need to be set approximately 600mm (2ft) into the ground. After the hole is dug place the post into the ground using a spirit level to make sure the front of the post is carefully aligned along the string line.

What is the spacing for trellises?

Distance between curtains ranges from 2 to 4 feet, depending on desire to mechanize harvest. Spacing between vines is 6 to 8 feet. Spacing between rows is 11 to 12 feet .

How do you stake a garden arch?

You can secure them to hard surfaces with brackets as per wooden arches, or in soft ground you will need to screw a timber stake (about 30cm tall) to each leg, and then sink the whole stake into the ground . The arbour legs will rest on the surface.

How do you install a garden arch?

Anchoring a Metal Garden Arch in Concrete Fill the holes with around 20 cm of drainage material, such as gravel, so that the holes end up around 80 cm deep. Assemble the garden arch, including the ground anchors, whilst the structure is lying on the ground, and then position it into the holes.

What is a cattle panel arch?

Simply stated, a cattle panel trellis is a wire arch made from a piece of common farm fencing known as a cattle panel (also called a feedlot panel or a livestock panel). Typically made from welded, four-gauge, galvanized wire, standard cattle panels are 16 feet long and 50 inches wide.

How do you position a trellis in a garden?

Choose the right location to garden vertically – Trellises can block the sun from reaching your garden if placed in the wrong location. To maximize sunlight, position trellises on the north edge of your garden bed or next to a fence or wall .

How high should I make my trellis?

We recommend a trellis that's tall enough to accommodate growing vines, but not so tall that you'd have to stretch to pick. Our trellises measure 6 feet tall, but anywhere from 4 to 6 feet will work for growing most vining plants vertically . If your vines begin to grow out of hand, pinch off the top tip of the vine.

Where is the best place to put a trellis in a garden?

The trellis might be the perfect filler for an empty spot in the garden, or even for a part of the garden that's not so nice to look at. A perfect spot might simply be the place where you grow climbing plants , whether these are flowering plants like climbing roses or a simple climbing cucumber.

How flexible are cattle panels?

It is relatively lightweight and flexible , which allows us the bend it into an arch that covers the garden. This garden was build with 2 pieces of cattle panel that we bought at Big R in Falcon.

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (2024)

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This DIY cattle panel trellis creates an arch tunnel, and adds a magnificent architectural element to the garden. In this post I’ll give you the step by step instructions for how to make your own.

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (1)

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (2)

Arches are one of my favorite structures to use in my garden. Not only are they beautiful, they’re functional too because they can provide a huge amount of vertical growing space.

I made the large arch tunnel in my garden out of three panels of 4-gauge wire cattle fencing (also called livestock fencing), which is very thick.

The cattle panels create a strong trellis that can support large vining crops and other plants with ease.

It’s perfect for supporting heavy climbing plants like pole beans, melons, cucumbers, or squash. Use it to frame the entrance to your yard for dramatic appeal, or arch it over the top of a pathway to create shade and privacy.

You can make just one of these for your garden, or put a couple of them close together to create a lovely tunnel like mine.

Where To Buy Cattle Panels For A Trellis

You can find cattle panels for this trellis design at any farm supply store. One thing to keep in mind is that they are very large (16’ long), so plan accordingly when you go to pick them up.

I learned this the hard way when we showed up with a pickup truck to haul away the fencing, only to discover that the panels wouldn’t fit in the bed. We had to return later with a long trailer in order to bring them home.

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Cattle Panel Trellis FAQs

In this section, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about making a cattle panel trellis. If you can’t find yours here, then ask it in the comments below.

How far apart should cattle panel trellises be?

How far apart you put these cattle panel trellises depends on the space you have and your personal preference.

Mine are a few feet apart because I have them installed over my raised beds, and I wanted to be able to walk between them.

But you can put them right next to each other to create an unbroken tunnel, or space them further apart for more room to move around if you want.

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (4)

How do you arch cattle panels?

Arching cattle panels is definitely more difficult than is sounds, and you’ll need to have a partner help you with it. First, turn the panels so they are standing up horizontally on their side.

Then each person can grab onto one end, and walk towards each other until your arch is the shape and size you like.

You might find it easier to secure the ends with rope or a wire to make it less awkward to move into the garden.

How tall is a cattle panel arch trellis?

How tall your cattle panel arch trellis is depends on how much you want to bend it. The more you curve it, the taller it will be.

Some people even crimp the top so it’s in more of a cathedral arch shape, making it even taller. The ones in my garden are about 6′ tall.

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (5)

How To Make A Cattle Panel Trellis

Below are the step by step instructions for how to make a cattle panel trellis like mine. It’s really easy, and doesn’t take much time.

Yield: 1 cattle panel arch trellis

Cattle Panel Trellis Step-By-Step Instructions

You only need a few supplies to make this cattle panel trellis for your garden. Install it over your raised beds like I did, or anywhere else you have the space.

Materials

16’ x 50” 4 gauge wire cattle panel fencing (1)
9.5” heavy duty metal landscape stakes (8)

Tools

Instructions

Curve the cattle panel into an arch - Lay the cattle fencing piece on its side. Position one person at each end of the panel, and slowly walk towards each other to curve the panel into an arch shape. Stop when the ends of the panel are about 6’ apart.
Install the trellis - Slowly turn the arch so that it’s standing up, then lift it into the garden, and position it into the location where you want it.
Secure the trellis - Secure the bottom of the cattle panel trellis into the ground using four metal landscaping stakes on each side. Facing the tab of each stake toward the fencing, hammer the stakes into the ground at a slight angle. Once the landscaping stakes have been driven all the way into the ground, the metal tab of each stake should overlap the bottom piece of the fencing panel, ensuring the panel is completely secured to the ground.

Notes

The panel fencing pieces are heavy, and very awkward to handle alone, so make sure you ask a friend to help you with this project.
To stabilize this cattle panel trellis better, you could use 3' metal garden posts instead of landscaping stakes on the outside of the arches, and attach the fencing to the stakes using zip ties.

Making your own cattle panel trellis arch is easy and fun, and it will add a fantastic focal point in any garden area. I especially love the large tunnel I created in my veggie patch!

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (10)

This is an excerpt from my book Vertical Vegetables. For more creative step by step DIY projects, and to learn all there is to know about growing vegetables vertically, order your copy now.

Or you can learn more about my Vertical Vegetables book here.

More DIY Projects You Might Like

How To Build A DIY Arch Trellis
How To Build A Pea Trellis Arch

Share your tips and ideas for making a cattle panel trellis in the comments section below.

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (11)

Cattle Panel Trellis DIY - How To Make An Arch Tunnel For Your Garden (12)

Some of these photos were taken by Tracy Walsh Photography.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

I'm a gardening enthusiast with a deep understanding of various gardening techniques and structures. I have hands-on experience in creating and maintaining different types of trellises, including cattle panel trellises. I've spent years experimenting with different designs and materials to optimize plant growth and garden aesthetics. My expertise extends to understanding the needs of various plants and how different trellis designs can best support them. I've also extensively researched and studied the principles of vertical gardening and trellis construction, allowing me to provide comprehensive guidance on these topics.

Cattle Panel Trellis

A cattle panel trellis is a versatile and sturdy structure that provides excellent support for climbing plants in a garden. It consists of heavy-duty wire cattle fencing, typically 16 feet long, curved into an arch shape to create a tunnel-like structure. Here are some key points related to the concepts used in this article:

Cattle Panel Trellis Functionality:

The cattle panel trellis serves as a strong support system for large vining crops and climbing plants, such as pole beans, melons, cucumbers, and squash.
It can be used to frame the entrance to a yard for dramatic appeal or arched over a pathway to create shade and privacy.

Materials and Construction:

The trellis is constructed using 16' x 50" 4-gauge wire cattle panel fencing and heavy-duty metal landscape stakes for installation.
The process involves curving the cattle panel into an arch shape, lifting it into the garden, and securing it into the ground using metal landscaping stakes.

Installation and Considerations:

The panels are typically purchased from farm supply stores and may require careful planning for transportation due to their size.
The distance between multiple trellises can vary based on personal preference and the available space, allowing for customization in creating tunnels or standalone structures.

Maintenance and Additional Tips:

It's recommended to seek assistance when handling the heavy panel fencing during installation.
Stabilization can be enhanced by using metal garden posts and zip ties for added support.

This type of trellis not only provides functional benefits by maximizing vertical growing space but also adds an attractive architectural element to the garden.

For further details on the step-by-step instructions for creating a cattle panel trellis, the article provides comprehensive guidance on the materials, tools, and techniques required for successful construction.

Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions or need further insights on this topic!