I'm planning to make a PVC trellis for my garden but I'm a bit confused about the design. Most online guides suggest putting the support legs in the middle of the square grids, while I've noticed that corner legs are common in store-bought metal trellises. Is there a reason the middle legs are often preferred? What advantages do they offer that I might be missing? Also, if anyone has experience with PVC trellises, what's your recommendation on the size? I'm considering using 1/2 inch PVC because I want it durable but not overly bulky.
1 Answer
Honestly, I can’t think of any major downside to using corner legs unless the fittings for them happen to be pricier than those for the middle. From what I've seen, having vertical supports in the center gives more room between adjacent cages, which can be helpful for growing things like large tomato plants. Personally, I prefer using 3/4" EMT conduit and hanging cattle panels; they hold up better against strong winds and require fewer cuts and fittings. They're a bit pricier, but offer better versatility, working great for beans and squash too! Just my two cents!
That's a good point about the fittings! I checked, and actually, corner leg fittings are around $1.70 while middle leg ones are about $2.89. For a trellis setup with multiple levels, you might end up needing more fittings for the middle supports. I'm also curious why PVC cages almost never use corner legs; you’d think it would be more common. I’m aiming for something easy to set up and take down too, like a portable design for vine crops.