With the launch of our new Outdoor Accents® APRTR rail connectors, we set out to create a DIY project that would be fun and easy to do. A simple fence trellis for climbing plants was a perfect choice and was easily completed in a couple of hours.
![DIY Garden Bench with Outdoor Accents® APRTA Rigid Tie® Angles](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DIY-Garden-Bench-with-Outdoor-Accents%C2%AE-APRTA-Rigid-Tie%C2%AE-Angles.png)
Rigid Tie® connectors have long been favorites of customers who use them on a wide assortment of projects, like work benches, planter boxes and outdoor tables. Now, four Rigid Tie models, featuring a beautiful, black powder-coat finish, have been added to the Outdoor Accents® decorative hardware line. We recently built a garden bench with the new APRTA2 angles and a customizable mobile cart with the APRTC2 corner connectors. You can find free plans for those and many other projects here.
![DIY Mobile Cart with Outdoor Accents® APRTC Rigid Tie® corner connectors](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DIY-Mobile-Cart-with-Outdoor-Accents%C2%AE-APRTC-Rigid-Tie%C2%AE-corner-connectors.png)
For our new fence trellis project, the homeowner wanted a solution that would provide added privacy and an opportunity for climbing plants to enhance the appearance of the fence. We decided on a customizable fence trellis built with the Outdoor Accents APRTR decorative Rigid Tie rail connector. We also used APRTR connectors to attach the trellis to the fence.
![Customizable fence trellis built with the Outdoor Accents APRTR decorative Rigid Tie rail connector](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/customizable-fence-trellis-built-with-the-Outdoor-Accents-APRTR-decorative-Rigid-Tie-rail-connector.png)
As an added bonus, this trellis can be customized to any size you want. For our project, we built a 5’ x7’ trellis. Here’s our materials list:
(1) 2×4 x 10’ redwood
(2) 2×4 x 8’ redwood
(8) 1×1 x 8’ redwood
(1) 5×6 hog wire panel
(8) APRTR decorative Rigid Tie® rail connectors
1 box Outdoor Accents® connector screws (SD10112DBB)
Finish galvanized nails
Instructions
- Cut wood to size. Our vertical 2x4s are 7’ tall and the horizontal 2x4s are 5’ long. For the framing around the hog wire, we cut the 1×1 lumber into two 5’ pieces and two 5’10” pieces.
2. Attach the APRTR rail connectors to the ends of the horizontal pieces using 1 1/2” screws.
![Attach the APRTR rail connectors to the ends of the horizontal pieces](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Attach-the-APRTR-rail-connectors-to-the-ends-of-the-horizontal-pieces-.png)
3. Attach the connectors to the vertical members to assemble the frame.
![Attach the connectors to the vertical members to assemble the frame.](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Attach-the-connectors-to-the-vertical-members-to-assemble-the-frame..png)
4. Attach the 1×1 top and sides on one side using finish nails. (Tip: Use a piece of scrap 1×1 underneath the piece you’re nailing for it to sit on.) We used a pneumatic nailer, but the 1x1s can be hammered or stapled into place, too.
![Attach the 1x1 top and sides on one side using finish nails.](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Attach-the-1x1-top-and-sides-on-one-side-using-finish-nails.-.png)
5. Lay the hog wire panel onto the attached 1×1 lumber.
![Lay the hog wire panel onto the attached 1x1 lumber](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Lay-the-hog-wire-panel-onto-the-attached-1x1-lumber.png)
6. Attach the other 1×1 pieces using finish nails to sandwich the hog wire panel into place.
![Attach the other 1x1 pieces using finish nails to sandwich the hog wire panel into place](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Attach-the-other-1x1-pieces-using-finish-nails-to-sandwich-the-hog-wire-panel-into-place-1.png)
7. Attach the trellis to the fence using (4) APRTR rail connectors, —and you’re ready to plant.
![Attach the trellis to the fence using (4) APRTR rail connectors](https://blog.strongtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Attach-the-trellis-to-the-fence-using-4-APRTR-rail-connectors-2.png)
You can watch the full video on how to build a Fence Trellis with our Outdoor Accents® APRTR Decorative Rigid Tie® rail connectors below!