So I tried to build a simple garden trellis and ended up with a disaster

Last Saturday I figured I'd make a quick bean trellis out of some bamboo poles I had lying around. Tied them together with twine, stuck them in the ground, and walked away feeling pretty good about myself. About an hour later I heard this loud crash from the backyard and found the whole thing collapsed into my tomato plants. Turns out I didn't push the poles deep enough into the soil and the whole thing just tipped over. Has anyone else had a simple backyard project turn into a total mess like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery_lopez8d ago

You know what, I used to totally roll my eyes at people who said they couldn't handle simple DIY stuff. Like how hard could it really be to put up a shelf or stake some plants right? Then I tried to build a little raised bed for my herbs last spring and ended up with wood popping apart and dirt everywhere. It was such a mess and I felt so dumb. So yeah your trellis story totally changed my mind on that whole "it's so easy" thing. Sometimes the ground is just too loose or the bamboo is too lightweight and it all goes wrong. Now I always tell people to dig like a foot deep at least or use those metal stakes that actually hold.

caleb_ross128d ago

A buddy of mine had a similar experience trying to hang a birdhouse last summer. He drilled into what he swore was solid wood, but the whole thing just split right down the middle and the birdhouse fell to the ground. @avery_lopez you are absolutely right that sometimes the ground or the materials just dont cooperate no matter how simple it looks. It took him three tries and finally a metal bracket to get it to stay. It is humbling when you think you have it figured out and the project just laughs at you.