It is not enough for all vegetable plants to grow and plant them out and then continue to care for them. Beans, peas, cucumbers and the like also need climbing aid, but not everyone has the time or talent to build them themselves. Do you still want to save and help yourself effortlessly? Then you can build a climbing frame yourself out of pallets!
Although “build” is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, because the fact is that you don’t even have to do a lot of hammering and drilling to make a simple trellis made from Euro pallets. Even painting is optional and only necessary if you like it better that way. How do you build the climbing frame yourself from pallets? Quite simply like this:
Simple idea with supports for a slanted stand
Not all climbing plants actually climb. There are creeping varieties that have to be led upwards because they themselves do not form adhesive roots or twining shoots. The purpose of tying up these types of plants is to keep the fruits away from the ground, where diseases such as rot and pests lurk.
For these types of vegetable plants, a slope like that created by a sloping wall like this is perfect for reducing the weight of the fruit (e.g. pumpkins and zucchini) and may save you the trouble of installing support nets. Harvesting the fruit will also be easier if you build a climbing frame yourself from pallets, as you no longer have to kneel or bend over.
Depending on the location, you can get the pallet climbing aid with or without drilling:
- If you have a wall or fence near the bed, simply lean the Euro pallet against it.
- If you want the climbing aid to stand freely, you will need a pair of legs. To do this, simply take two boards of the same length and screw them to the sides of the pallet. Remember to drill them slightly at an angle, in the opposite direction of the wooden pallet.
- You can also use wire to attach supports.
- If you would like to build a double-sided climbing frame yourself out of pallets, you can simply lean two pieces together. Tie them together with wire for a better hold or connect them with a piece of board on each side.
- You can also create larger gaps between the individual slatscovered with chicken wire.
Build your own straight climbing frame from pallets
Cucumbers and beans, for example, do not bear heavy fruit and also naturally tend to grow tall, which is why you can set up the Euro pallet upright in this case. To do this you can:
- Cut off a few of the bottom boards and stick the cross boards into the ground (you'll probably have to dig the holes for them in advance).
- Insert two boards or sturdy strips into the garden floor (at the same distance as the pallet is wide) and then screw or nail the wooden pallet to them. You can also tie them again.
Tipp:Once you have shown cucumbers on pallets where they should grow, they will continue to do so. So usually a tie-down isas is appropriate with tomatoes, not necessary.
For small plants, shred the Euro pallet
Not every plant needs a complete plant as support or climbing aid. So if you build a climbing frame yourself out of pallets, you can cut the model in half or into thirds and get several from one pallet.
Build and paint your own climbing frame from pallets
Even if you don't want a colored framework, it's worth at least applying a protective varnish so that you can use the trellis again in the coming years. To do this, use simple wood oil, preferably organic.
However, if you want to paint the pallet trellis in a striking color, we recommend using acrylic varnish.
Either way, do the following:
- The wood is thoroughly cleaned. Use clear water and a brush to remove even stubborn dirt.
- The wood should also be sanded so that the paint can adhere well later. In this way you also remove any remaining dirt. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper and repeat with a finer grit.
- Apply an impregnation and then the selected varnish. As soon as the varnish (oil) has dried, you can use the palette as a climbing aid.
Cover photo:@smartgirlsdiy/ Instagram
