Enhance outdoor living with trellises

Trellises have been adding character and elegance to outdoor living spaces for years. Yet, these stylish wooden structures are practical projects that bring everyday elegance to your yard or garden - and can be built in a single weekend.

Are you considering dressing up your front or backyard natural setting? Here are a few considerations to remember.

Site Selection. Consider attaching the trellis to your home, using it to shelter a path between the main house and an outbuilding. One of the greatest appeals of a trellis is its architecture, so make sure the site, size and proportion you choose is appropriate for its surroundings.

Materials. One of the most popular building materials for trellises is western red cedar. Many homeowners specify cedar due to its all-natural look, pleasant aroma and character that blend nicely with the natural surroundings. And its natural resistance to decay and insects has long been recognized.

Decorative Touches. Consider adding decorative touches to all canopy board ends. To create a decorative end, perfect your design on construction paper then use it as a template to transfer your design to each board end. Cut, and then sand the edges to create a smooth finish.

As you'll see, trellises can give any backyard some classical character as well as seasonal charm. A trellis can make a dramatic change to your outdoor living areas, and better yet, you can build it in just one weekend. You can obtain more information or order a brochure toll-free at 1-866-778- 9096 or online at www.wrcla.org.

- News Canada