homestead.fyi / ATRELLIS

A-Frame Trellis

A freestanding trellis made of two 8 ft half cattle panels leaned into an A and tied at the top.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
90 inHeight
66 inBase
50 inLength
1 hrBuild time
$71.80Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 67 in 90 3/8 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 50 in 90 3/8 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 67 in 50 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
22x4 PT66Spreaderflat, wired to the bottom of each panel

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 PT x 12 ft
Spreader 1 66Spreader 2 66

Shopping list $71.80 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$7.18$7.18see lumber cutting diagram
Cattle panel, 16 ft x 50 in, 4-gaugeTractor Supply1$37.99$37.99cut in two
6 ft studded T-post (1.25 lb/ft)Tractor Supply2$4.49$8.98anchors
UV zip ties 11 in, 100 ct (also used for tie wire)Home Depot1$17.65$17.65
Total before tax$71.80
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Cut one 16 ft cattle panel in half across the middle with bolt cutters, to make two 8 ft panels.
  2. Stand the two halves against each other in an A, 66 in apart at the bottom, and wire the top rails together every 4 in with tie wire.
  3. Lay the two 2x4 spreaders on the ground under the two ends of the panels, flat, and wire each panel's bottom bar to them to hold the span.
  4. Pound a T-post at each bottom corner and wire the panels to the posts to anchor them in wind.
  5. Plant a vine at the foot of each side: peas, beans or cucumbers. They climb the panels and shade the middle.

Before you start