Plant support frame

It’s easy to create this simple plant frame from treated timber – perfect for supporting your favourite climbing vege, upright shrub or small espalier.

Build a plant support frame for your garden

You will need:

Treated timber measuring approx. 20mm x 30mm cut to the following lengths:
- 2 x 1440mm
Treated timber measuring approx. 65mm x 20mm cut to the following lengths:
- 2 x 1500mm
- 2 x 700mm
- 4 x 90mm
Treated timber measuring approx. 50mm x 50mm cut to the following lengths:
- 4 x 120mm
40mm treated screws
50mm treated screws

Clean cloth
Drill with 3mm drill bit
Exterior filler and PVA glue
Paintbrush and pencil
Putty knife or similar
Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Alaska
Resene Quick Dry
Sandpaper
Saw
Screwdriver
Tape measure

To get it right: Use a spirit level when fixing your support frame to ensure it’s perfectly level and upright.

Here's another idea: If you’re unable to locate the exact timber profiles listed in this project, simply substitute 90mm x 21mm decking and 24mm x 24mm garden stakes (available from Mitre 10 Mega).

Step one
Measure, mark and cut the pieces of 20mm x 30mm timber and the pieces of 65mm x 20mm timber to the lengths listed. Note that the 700mm and 1500mm lengths have ends mitred at 45 degrees (to form a rectangular frame).

Step two
Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper and wipe off any sanding residue with a clean cloth.

Step three
Place the 700mm x 1500mm lengths together on a flat surface to form a rectangular frame and drill two pilot holes at each corner.

Step four
Fix each corner with PVA glue and 50mm screws, taking care to countersink the heads of the screws. Allow the glue to dry.

Step five
Measure, mark and cut the 50mm x 50mm timber to the lengths listed. Again, smooth any rough edges with sandpaper and wipe off any sanding residue with a clean cloth.

Step six
Attach these to each corner of the rectangular frame, as shown, to form brackets. Again, fix with PVA glue and 50mm screws, drilling pilot holes first and carefully countersinking the screw heads.

Step seven
Attach each of the four remaining pieces of wood to the ends of the brackets, as shown. Once again, fix these with PVA glue and 50mm screws, drilling pilot holes first.

Step eight
Attach the two 1440mm lengths of timber to the frame, as shown. Fix these with PVA glue and 40mm screws, drilling pilot holes first.

Step nine
Fill the screw heads with filler and allow to dry. Sand the filler smooth and wipe off any sanding residue with a clean cloth.

Step ten
Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry to the entire structure and allow to dry.

Step eleven
Apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Alaska to the entire structure, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Plant support frame

Plants for your garden

Top tip: For a neat finish, tie plants to the frame using stainless steel eye hooks and garden ties.

Handy hint: Attach the support frame to a wooden fence or shed wall using 50mm screws (fixed through the ends of the brackets).

Words and photos by Mark Rayner

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