What is a Privacy Trellis?

A privacy trellis is a type of climbing plant support used to conceal a specific area of a porch or garden. They are typically constructed using strips of interwoven wood, often referred to as “lattice.” It may take climbing plants many seasons to become established enough to make this type of privacy screen effective. For this reason, climbing plants that also have rapid growth are often used with a privacy trellis.

The intended use of a privacy trellis should be considered before determining what type of plant it should support. Most people use a privacy trellis to achieve actual privacy, however, in some cases these trellises are erected purely for decorative purposes. If the trellis is for decoration only, a wide variety of plants can be used. Some varieties of roses are popular choices for trellising, though they typically do not offer as much privacy as many other types of plants.

Another flowering variety of plant that lends itself well to trellising is creeping snapdragon. This plant is suitable for many different climates, and may have flowers in white, pink, or violet. These plants flower for many weeks if they are properly watered and fertilized. Other flowering plants suitable for a privacy trellis include morning glory, wisteria, and blue passionflower.

English ivy is type of plant that usually grows very quickly, and has a thick outgrowth of vines. This makes the plant particularly well suited for use with a privacy trellis. Left untended, the vines of the English ivy will usually attach themselves to an entire surface before trailing off to the ground. In order to limit their growth they must be periodically cut back. English ivy plants have small, glossy, dark green leaves and vines.

In some cases, English ivy can reach heights in excess of 50 feet (15.24 m). More mature plants usually produce a very small light green flower. These plants prefer shady environments and soil with good drainage. Gardeners should take extra care in trimming English ivy because left alone, it can quickly overtake a garden.

Privacy trellises are usually constructed of wood, but can be made of other materials. Vinyl is often used for outdoor privacy screens and has some major advantages over wood. Vinyl typically withstands outdoor elements better than wood, and because it is available in many colors, the need to paint is eliminated. Outdoor privacy screens can also be constructed of different types of iron and steel.