It’s that easy to build a climbing aid for potted plants yourself

Making climbing aids are useful for climbing-friendly container plants because they keep their shoots above the ground (and in the air) and give them support and shape. This is particularly advantageous when growing vegetables and fruit in the tub, because it makes them less susceptible to unwanted pests than in the field. Whether in the garden, on the terrace, on the balcony or next to the house entrance – there are countless places where you can design your tub garden. There are also numerous options when it comes to choosing plants. We planted tomatoes and basil in our tub, but you can use any climbing plant you like. A clematis in a bucket can also benefit from this climbing aid. In the following, we will show you how you can build a beautiful climbing aid for potted plants yourself.

Before you begin: Prepare the cedar strips in advance by soaking them in water for at least 12 hours so that they bend easily. If you can’t find cedar wood, you can also use pine, oak, or poplar. These types of wood are also easy to bend. Just make sure the wood is sealed and protected from water.

You can find the end piece for your self-made climbing aid in hardware stores and craft stores. Some come with a screw on the end already, but if you are using one without a screw you will need a double-ended hanger bolt that is 4.7mm x 10-20mm. You can also buy these at a hardware store.

Make climbing aid for buckets yourself – this is how it works:

Working time: 1 hour

Difficulty level: low

Skills required: drilling

materials

6 x cedar wooden strips, 5-6 mm thick and 15 mm wide, which are cut to a length of 1200 mm

2 x wooden embroidery frames with a diameter of at least 35 cm

Wood glue

Round bar with a diameter of 25 mm, cut to a length of 7.5 cm

Decorative end button for curtain rods

12 x 25 mm bolts with nuts

2-4 x curtain rings made of wood for 25 mm Ø curtain rod

Buckets with a diameter of 35 cm – 40 cm

Potting soil

1 climbing plant and optional underplanting

Tools

drill

screwdriver

Step 1: prepare the embroidery hoop

Embroidery frames in different sizes hold the wooden strips together so that the obelisk can stand stable. Glue the outer and inner rings together and screw the clasp tight. Once the glue has dried, you can remove the metal parts if necessary.

Step 2: assemble and attach the end piece

Drill a hole in the center of the round rod. If the end button has a screw, attach it to the pre-drilled round rod. If you are using an end piece without a screw, first drill a hole in its base to insert the hanger bolt and then fix it to the rod.

Step 3: Attach the end piece to the trellis

Place the damp cedar strips tightly around the rod, so that their ends and the underside of the end piece meet. Slide the curtain rings up over the bundled strips of wood, almost to the end piece.

Step 4: add the hoops

Lay the top of the end piece on the floor with the open end of the cedar strips facing up. Slide the first hoop inside the grid so that it is about 50-60 cm from the top. Insert the strips of wood one after the other into the second hoop until they are all in, and pull this ring upwards towards you, up to about 20 – 30 cm from the lower end of the climbing aid. One hoop should be on the inside and the second hoop on the outside of the wooden strips.

Step 5: screw the strips to tires

When you have achieved the desired curvature and shape, drill holes at the points where the cedar strips and embroidery hoops meet and fix them with the screws and nuts. And done!

Now you can fill your bucket with soil, then attach the trellis and finally design the plants as you wish.