A Plant Trellis Can Give Your Patio Privacy — If It Can Handle The Wind

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Increasing the privacy of your patio is a familiar quest to any homeowner living in close quarters with their neighbors. Since adding a bit of greenery to a balcony or patio is often appealing, a planter with a trellis of climbing vines makes for one of the more aesthetically pleasing privacy options on the market. It's easy and inexpensive to create — far cheaper than paying for the installation of a regular fence or privacy wall. For renters and those with smaller patios, a trellis also makes for a convenient alternative to permanent construction, adding both style and seclusion to your yard to boost the general appearance of your patio. Still, any trellis screen is only as effective as its ability to resist wind. Trellises can be top-heavy, particularly if they're growing denser vines, which makes them easy to topple in a high breeze on an exposed patio or back deck.

When selecting your plants, it's important to remember that if your goal is to create privacy, the planting will need time to fill in properly. From evergreens like star jasmine and traditional ivy, to seasonal blooms like morning glories and climbing roses, there are so many options when it comes to climbing plants that can help you create a verdant, vertical garden. Obviously, some vines grow more quickly than others, and some provide denser coverage in certain seasons, depending on whether or not they are flowering, so consult with an expert at your local garden center before committing to a species to ensure you achieve the desired effect. Next, to maximize wind resistance, consider how well you secure the plants, as well as the type and placement of the planter and trellis.

To create this living fence, you'll need the planter and trellis itself, as well as the plants of your choice. Pre-made planter trellises come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but if you're looking to maximize wind resistance, bigger is better — the wider and heavier the base for your trellis, the less likely it is to be blown around when it gets gusty. While a bit on the pricey side, this Black Metal Iron Planter Box with Attached Trellis is a great option because of its heft. However, if you're looking to save some cash and build the planter yourself, this instructional guide from Home Depot walks you through the construction of a sturdy planter box trellis. The placement of your trellis is also important to consider. Even if your main goal is to use the trellis as a privacy screen, you'll still want to try to place it in a semi-sheltered position to reduce wind exposure.

It's also important to secure your plants sufficiently to the trellis itself, so that delicate stems don't get damaged. Plastic plant clips are your best bet to ensure both maximum security and minimal disturbance to the growth of the plant. In fact, not only can plant clips secure vines safely to a trellis, they can also help train the growth of the plant itself, a particularly useful feature if you're using the greenery to create a privacy screen and want to ensure it's growing up rather than out. Other good options include plant Velcro, fabric twine, or even plain old rubber bands if you have them on hand.