Arched trellis’ are a great way to create more visual impact and vertical growing space in your garden. Follow these step-by-step instructions to build a simple and affordable garden arbor using a cattle panel, t posts, and zip ties.
Easy Cattle Panel Arch Trellis: DIY Affordable Garden Arbor
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Cattle panel trellises (sometimes called livestock panel) aren’t a new idea. I first saw this method being used in a garden I drive by frequently. It’s a small vegetable garden in town but they use vertical growing techniques to produce large amounts food. They have several arched trellises and it makes their garden look beautiful while also allowing them to grow a lot more food in a small space.
Benefits of Vertical Gardening
Growing vertically is an easy way to grow a lot more food in less space. It also adds height and interest to a garden, making it much more visually appealing. Lastly, growing squash plants off the ground can significantly reduce the risk of squash vine borer damage. I am a huge fan of vertical gardening for these reasons.
I’ve grown vertical in the past using various types of trellises, including a fun t-pee trellis for climbing pole beans, but I didn’t have a good spot to make an arched trellis until this year.
In the past I’ve grown most my veggies in my raised garden beds and cut flowers in my larger garden plot that’s just over 750 square feet. I’m switching things up this year and planting most my veggies in the larger plot in hopes to produce more food. In order to do this, I’ll be taking advantage of vertical growing space. A DIY cattle panel arch trellis is the perfect way to create a formal entrance to this garden space while increasing the amount of food I can grow as well.
Plants that grow well on a garden arch trellis
A cattle panel arch trellis is perfect for any vining plant that likes to climb or requires support. This includes climbing green beans, vining squash, cucumbers, melons, grapes, and indeterminate tomatoes.
Materials for a Cattle Panel Trellis
1 16′ Cattle Panel
4 5′ T posts
Spray paint (optional)
You can find t posts and cattle panels at your local farm supply store, like Tractor Supply or Runnings.
Tools needed
How to make a DIY Cattle Panel Arch Trellis
The first step to making a cattle panel garden trellis is to measure where the posts will be set. This is easier if you have something to pull measurements from, like a building or fence. If you don’t have a permanent structure nearby then just pick a place to start and measure from post to post.
Next use a post pounder to set your first t post. I started with the front left post.
Once your first post is set, use the width of the cattle panel to determine the placement of the second t-post that will go in the back left corner. My cattle panel was 50″ wide, so I set my posts about 44″ apart. You want your t posts set in a couple inches from the outside of the cattle panel on both side. The t posts are the main support holding the cattle panel arch together and there needs to be room to attach them using zip ties so it’s not a good idea to try to line them up with the very edge of the cattle panel. The t posts will provide the most support if they are set in a few inches on both sides.
Set your second post.
If you know the width you want your trellis to be then you can continue setting posts; however, I wasn’t sure so at this point I used the first two posts to set my arch in place to visually determine the height and width I wanted. I found a distance of 6′ from side to side gave me the perfect height and width.
Once you’ve determined your preferred width, the next step is to measure that distance from the first two t posts to determine the placement of t posts on the right side. If you have a standing structure it can be helpful to pull measurements to more accurately determine the placement of the t posts on the right side. If not, you can measure the distance between t posts from front to back and left to right. Then measure from the front left t post to the back right and again from the back left to front right to double check your placements. Keeping these distances the same will help to ensure correct placement of your t posts on the right side.
Note: If your measurements and t post placements are slightly off it won’t matter too much. You just need to be sure they will hold the cattle panel on both sides. If the measurements are off the cattle panel may bend slightly wonky, but this won’t be noticeable once plants grow.
Set your front right and back right t posts.
Next you need to bend the cattle panel enough to fit between the t posts on the left and right side. This is easier with two people. Line one end of your cattle panel up on the inside of the t posts on the left side. Hold the other end of the cattle panel and slowly walk it in, bending the cattle panel and forming the arch. Set the end you hold on the inside of the t posts on the right side.
Adjust the cattle panel as needed to line it up evenly with each t post and ensure the ends are fairly level.
Use zip ties to secure the cattle panel to each t post.
You can see this process step-by-step in my project video.
How long does it take to make a DIY cattle panel arched trellis?
It takes about 15-20 minutes to make a cattle panel garden arch, so they don’t take a lot of time to make.
How much does it cost to make a cattle panel garden arch?
Prices vary based on location, but in my area a 16′ x 50″ cattle panel is $25 and 4 5′ t post are $18. Zip ties are another few dollars, so this project costs less than $50. Considering the size and durability of the finished arch, it’s an affordable way to increase growing space and provide needed support for plants. To make this project more affordable, buy your materials second hand from Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or local auctions.
How tall is a cattle panel arched trellis?
The height of your trellis is determined buy how far apart you space your t posts on either side. The closer together, the taller your arch will be. I found a distance of 6 feet was the perfect height for my space. You can easily create different heights by adjusting the space between each end of the panel.
Vertical Gardening growing Tips
When growing vertical, it’s important you choose the right types of plants for best success. You can grow any plant at the base of a trellis, but if its not a vining plant it won’t make the best use of that space. For example, a determinate tomato would not be the best plant to plant at the base of a trellis. Determinate tomatoes do require a form of support, but they only grow to a specific (or determined) height and won’t ever reach the top of the arch. An indeterminate tomato, on the other hand, will climb and would be a good fit for an arched trellis. Tomatoes naturally want to sprawl along the ground, so they will need to trained to climb up (like most plants).
Pole beans are a great plant to grow along an arched trellis. Purple podded pole beans are my favorite and SO prolific. Plant the seeds about every 4-6″ apart along each side of the arch and they will cover the arch in no time. Note that pole beans climb, while bush beans do not grow taller than a foot or two.
Vining squash is another great plant to grow along an arched trellis. Especially plants like tromboncino squash. These plants grow huge and produce large squash that will curl if not trellised. When grown on a trellis, the squash grow long and are easier to process. When growing squash or pumpkins on an arched trellis be sure the growing fruits have enough support to hold their weight. Larger fruits may need to be supported so their weight doesn’t pull them from the vine prematurely. Keep in mind that plants like zucchini don’t vine out much, if at all, and will not climb up a trellis.
Cucumbers are another great plant to grow along garden arches.
An arched cattle panel trellis would also make a strong trellis for grape vines. However, keep in mind that grape vines are grown as perennials meaning that they do not like being moved. If using a cattle panel trellis to grow grapes, be sure to install it in a place where you intend for it to stay for years to come.
Malabar spinach can also be grown along a vertical trellis, although I have not personally grown this plant myself yet.
Installing an arched trellis between raised beds
Cattle panel arched trellises can be made at ground level or between two raised beds. The garden beds need to be at least the width of your panel. If the beds are narrower than the panel then the panels will need to float above the beds and will extend beyond them on either end. You could also install an arched trellis between two stock tanks. Just be sure to drill holes in the bottom of the stock tanks for proper drainage if using them as planters.
This simple cattle panel trellis is a great option for those with a smaller home garden who want to make the most out of their growing space. Garden trellises are also a great way to create a more aesthetically pleasing garden while producing more food at the same time. Spring can often feel a bit overwhelming in the garden, but come harvest season you will be so happy you installed this trellis!
I hope this post was helpful in your garden design plan. Be sure to check back later in the garden season to see how my arched trellis looks covered in green foliage and veggies.
Happy gardening!
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