How to Repurpose a Screen Door into a Garden Trellis -

Wooden Trellis

A garden trellis is required to complete any garden. Many vegetables including peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, luffas and many others, require a trellis to grow to their fullest ability. Sometimes buying a trellis can be expensive, but the garden is a great place to use repurposed items to keep inline with a natural look. With that thinking in mind, we knew when we found this screen door, it would make a perfect trellis and complete our garden.

A well-planned garden is more than just a collection of plants; it’s a living masterpiece where every element plays a role in both function and beauty. Just like a trellis provides the necessary support for climbing plants to flourish, a thoughtfully designed landscape enhances the entire outdoor space. The right combination of greenery, pathways, and structures creates a harmonious environment that feels both natural and intentional. Incorporating repurposed materials, such as an old screen door, adds character and sustainability to the garden, blending seamlessly with the lush surroundings.

Creating a truly captivating outdoor space requires expertise and vision, which is where Sugar Green Gardens excels. They transform ordinary gardens into breathtaking landscapes that invite relaxation and inspiration. From vibrant flower beds to tranquil water features, their designs are crafted to complement nature while enhancing usability. A well-designed garden isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about crafting a space that feels alive, where every detail contributes to a sense of peace and fulfillment. Whether it’s a trellis for climbing vines or a complete landscape overhaul, the right design makes all the difference.

When you have a lifestyle centered around repurposing items, some times it requires a bit of hunting to find that perfect item. However, occasionally, the perfect item finds you. It requires a different mindset and appreciation, but it brings in such a feeling of blessing. So often we’re obsessed with everything being new and shiny, but the biggest blessings in life are often free and it’s up to us see it’s worth.

Materials:

Staple puller

Drill

Kreg Jig and Clamp

Impact driver with Phillips bit

Rags for cleaning

Miter saw and scrap wood to make stand

Paint brushes

Safety goggles

Hearing protection

Lime Lime One-Step Paint

Electric Cable Clamp

Galvanized Farm Fence Panel

Bolt Cutters

Step One: Remove Staples

As you can tell from the picture, there was a screen attached to the door. What we didn’t show, was how unsightly it was tacked on. The first step was obviously to remove the screen. Your screen might be different, so do what you need to clean it up and take it down the bones you need for the trellis.

Step One: Remove the Staples Picture of a screen door with a screen attached

Step Two: Reinforce Structure

The door, future garden trellis, wasn’t in the best condition, so we used a Kreg Jig and Clamp to make pocket holes (holes drilled at an angle) at all the intersections of the piece.

Step Two: Drill Pocket Holes Picture of a Krig Jig being set up on the screen door to drill pocket holes

You can learn how to make pocket holes without additional tools.

Step Three: Add Details

Someone gave us an old changing table and though the structure couldn’t be used as is, the rail was still usable and fit perfectly in the middle space. At this step, feel free to add your own details to make the garden trellis personal to you and fit your needs.

Step Four: Paint with One-Step Paint

Pick a color, any color of Amy Howard’s One-Step paint, paint your garden trellis and scrap wood for the stand.

The chalk in chalk-based paint is heavy and it tends to settle to the bottom of the container. It is important mix it well before you start.

Turn the paint can upside down for at least 30 minutes or overnight if you can. This will get the chalk to start settling again. When you are ready to start, open the can and stir well. Stir until there are no more lumps and all of the wonderful chalky bits are pulled up from the bottom of the can. You can even use one of the paint stirrers on a drill.

One-Step Paint dries quickly, so stir the top of the paint with your brush from time to time to keep a film from forming while you paint, especially in the warmer months. Try to always work in long clean strokes with your brush for a more consistent finish.

Step Five: Cut Fence

More than likely, unless you have the perfect piece of scrap, you’ll have to cut a fence panel to fit your project. Measure your garden trellis frame and mark it on the fence panel. Cut the fence panel with bolt cutters or… If you use bolt cutters and you find it too hard to cut, use your body as leverage, as shown in the picture and that fence will snap like a twig.

Step Six: Attach Fence Panel

Lay down the garden trellis frame front down and place the fence panel on top. Place the electrical clips at the four corners then place them evening along the sides of the fence panel.

Pre-drill wholes in the wood to make it easier to screw the electrical clips.

Step Seven: Stabilize the Garden Trellis

With windy Oklahoma weather, we knew sturdy was a keyword. There is many ways to create a base for the garden trellis, so we got a couple of two-foot board to screw to the bottom. We found scrap table legs that we used to add an extra layer of sturdiness and reinforce the boards to the trellis structure.

And there you have a completed garden trellis! Leave a comment below with your ideas to repurpose items into a trellis! You can also take a look at these other garden trellis ideas that you can make yourself!

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How to Repurpose a Screen Door into a Garden Trellis