Ten More Ideas for Vertical Gardening

Discover ten more ideas for vertical gardening, from cattle panels to trellis netting and more. Learn how to incorporate these ideas into your garden and get inspired to grow with vertical space today!

One of my most viewed YouTube videos covers various ways to incorporate vertical gardening into your space. Since publishing that video nearly three years ago, I have continued implementing new vertical gardening techniques in my garden. Here are some of my favorite new ways to garden vertically.

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1. Cattle panels

In my first video, there were so many comments about how much people love using cattle panels for vertical space. I love using them too. Cattle panels, with their sturdy structure and open grid, are excellent tools for vertical gardening. Here are some creative ways to use them:

• Tomato Towers: Use cattle panels to create tomato towers. The open grid provides perfect support for these heavy fruiting vines.
• Cucumber Trellis: Shape a cattle panel into an arch and secure it between two garden beds to create a cucumber trellis. It allows cucumbers to hang down for easy picking.
• Bean Tunnel: Create a tunnel using a cattle panel for climbing beans. This not only makes harvesting easier but also provides a fun garden feature.
• Pea Fence: Peas need something to cling to as they grow. A cattle panel, with its small grid squares, is ideal for this.
• Vertical Squash Support: Use cattle panels to grow squash vertically to save space and prevent pest damage and rot when fruits rest on the ground.

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2. Trellis netting

Using trellis netting is an easy way to keep your cut flowers buzzing with pollinators and looking beautiful.

Many of my favorite cut flowers grow quite tall, and staking them individually can be tedious. Enter trellis netting – a flower farmer’s idea for vertical gardening you can add to your garden. I used trellis netting this season to support my lisianthus.

• I put wooden pole supports in each corner and then stretched the net between the poles. I used this trellis netting from Amazon.
• The netting is held taught between the four stakes.
• Cut off the excess netting.
• The flowers grow up and are supported by the netting.
• For taller flowers, use two layers of netting several inches apart.

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3. Freyr trellis

The Freyr trellis is a timeless way to add structure and beauty to your garden – attach a string or jute netting to a pole and watch your plants grow. 

Well-designed, well-made, easy to install, and easy to use. You can attach strings to the pole and use a vertical string technique or attach jute netting. The Freyr trellis is available from Seattle Urban Farm Company. It is not inexpensive but will last many years. I added this jute netting from Amazon.

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4. Use the space between existing supports

Who knew rebar could be so useful? I’m almost embarrassed to admit this next one. I’ve had this rebar trellis since 2015 and just now realized I could use the poles for vertical supports in the middle of the bed.

Stringing jute across the bed worked well to support these tomatillos this season. If you’re looking for ideas for vertical gardening, look at your garden and see where you already have supports in place. Could you use them to support vertical growing crops?

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5. Gracie Modern Arbor

If you’re looking for a statement piece, try a Gracie Modern Arbor.

I’ve admired the beauty and elegance of this arbor for years and was thrilled to add one at the entrance to my garden last fall. Currently, luffa vines are making their way up, and hopefully, the coral vine I planted will take off and take over this arbor as well. The Gracie Modern Arbor was simple to install, exceptionally well-made, and available for purchase from Terra Trellis.

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More Ideas for Vertical Gardening

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6. Ladder mesh block trellises

I keep finding more ways to use ladder mesh block to garden vertically, so I’m including this vertical gardening idea again. Ladder mesh block is inexpensive and versatile. It’s the perfect size to add to grow bags and other containers. This season I’m growing cantaloupe, Armenian cucumbers, and butternut squash on these versatile trellises.

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7. Tomato cages

One of the most common ideas for vertical gardening is using tomato cages. I didn’t include these in the first video, but I use them all the time, and I’m guessing you have some in your garden too! They often get a bad rap, but they can be a cost-effective solution. They are a good option for supporting smaller determinate tomatoes and peppers. You can buy sturdier ones online or check your local nursery for different options.

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8. Galvanized cube towers

I was excited when I saw these at a local nursery. Galvanized cube towers – here’s what I love about them. They are easy to install by pushing the supports down into the soil. Once in place, they are sturdy and secure. The interior is large, with plenty of room for crops to grow. The towers are also collapsable for easy storage. Purchase them at local nurseries or online from Midwest Wire Works.

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9. Whiskey barrel supports

I’m a huge fan of growing in whiskey barrels. My friend’s husband welds these supports that fit inside them perfectly. I’ve seen variations of these types of trellises for sale in other places as well. Adding a trellis doubles your growing space. Whiskey barrel supports are perfect for growing sweet peas, one of my favorite climbing flowers.

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10. Bamboo poles

Humble bamboo poles are inexpensive and so versatile. Use one or use several. Is something growing that needs a little extra support? Push a bamboo pole into the ground near the base of the plant. I use these clips to attach the stem to the pole (if needed).

If you know what you are growing will require support (like these borlotti beans), put the poles in place when planting. I purchase my bamboo poles from Amazon.

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Let me know in the comments your ideas for vertical gardening. Don’t forget to check out the other vertical gardening resources available on my blog and YouTube.

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