Trellis Design Ideas: Trellises with Fences or Screens

Set the scene for your garden's visitors the moment they enter with a magnificent trellis and pergola. A grand urn-flanked structure is a perfect introduction to a formal garden.

This long sectional trellis creates a useful zone for potting benches and gardening work, giving a staging area for an assortment of potted flowering plants and keeping project clutter and unsightly equipment out of view.

Narrow areas don't always mean there's no room to build. Here, an ensemble of three structures--a small-grid trellis, a larger L-shape trellis for privacy, and a gated arbor--all fit in a side yard that's only several feet wide.

This nicely proportioned gate-and-arbor duo is set to the side of the home, allowing guests to bypass the front entry and head straight to the backyard. The structure provides virtually the same privacy and security as a fence but is far more charming.

The swooping lines of the latticework fence and arbor seen here reflect the curves in the landscaping, furniture, and decorative stone balls.

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Besides providing privacy and creating a smooth transition from one outdoor space to another, trellises can also act as a background or support for plants, such as the shrub roses seen here.

A series of large-grid panels cap built-in benches wrapped around the edge of this spectacular deck, creating a private setting perfect for conversation or just relaxing. The deck's position on a steep hillside also ensures more privacy since the rough terrain precludes passersby or neighbors being able to see in.

Three lattice screens, the middle one topped with a playful gable, make a wonderful backdrop for this private seating area.

As a substitute for the traditional white or wooden trellis, a wire trellis fits with the modern look of this patio.

This side yard path offers an unexpected vista--a pair of graceful trellises topped with curved rails and flanked by stout posts and finials. The curved tops help alleviate the long, straight lines and make the trellises more significant, transforming a narrow nothing side yard into a pretty vignette.

This trellised screen wraps around the patio, making it distinct and also adding an attractive curve that envelops anyone relaxing near it. It incorporates small "windows" along the top so that views outward aren't obstructed completely, keeping an open feeling.

This trellis screen creates a separation between a water garden area and the rest of the yard, letting breezes pass through.

Outdoor areas take on instant charm when an enclosure is established. This latticework trellis provides an appealing backdrop for a café table and chairs. Without the screening, the setting would seem too exposed and far less inviting.

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With its wraparound form and projecting top, this trellis ensemble offers privacy in a delightful and relaxing setting. The sense of shelter is unmistakable, but the space doesn't feel too enclosed. A pair of cushioned chairs is the only invitation necessary.

This windowpane trellis outlines the garden without blocking views. Sheathed in rot-resistant cedar, trellis posts are turned on the diagonal.

How to Build a Trellis

Carve your landscape into separate areas for conversation, dining, play, and other outdoor activities with trellises. Vine clad lattice fences are a natural option for the walls between rooms, while arbors and gates can serve as doors.