Repurpose Old Mattress Springs To Create The Perfect DIY Garden Trellis

Gardening is full of repurposing. You can make planters, trellises, watering systems, and even decorative lights from stuff lying around your yard and home. For example, if you have a broken or old hose, you can also turn it into a stunning new plant trellis. Most of them, like this box spring trick, require just a couple of tools and a bit of your time. They aren't difficult, nor do you need a lot of strength.

Not everyone has a bed with springs anymore. However, if yours is a spring mattress, or a hybrid, you can put your bed to work even after you're meant to toss it out and buy a new one. Mattresses should be replaced every half decade, which seems like a waste for such an expensive piece of furniture. However, you don't have to take it straight to the dump. Instead, get to the metal inside. 

Mattress springs are kept in place thanks to a metal frame. While this metal frame is perfect for spacing mattress springs to create an even and supportive bed horizontally, it has another use as well. It can act as a great garden trellis when hung vertically. In fact, it's perfect for most lightweight vining plants, as the springs can handle a fair amount of weight from flowers and even cucumbers. However, if you want your trellis to handle heftier plants, like squash and melons, all you need to do is add a supporting frame around it. And, if you're having a hard time keeping your climbing plants in check, you can use a genius zip tie hack.

Making a trellis out of a mattress can be a bit messy and usually takes a long time, but it isn't overly difficult. All you need is an old mattress, gloves, a mask, and a knife or sharp tool of some sort. Once you have everything collected, you will cut through the layers of the bed until you get the springs out on their own. It's easiest to peel it off layer by layer, first the front and then the back, until your mattress is stripped down to just the metal. From there, you're pretty much ready to go by setting it up in your yard where you want it. Or, you can add a little support and decor to make it more fun.

While this is an easy DIY, there is no denying that it looks just like a mattress spring. It's not the most attractive design. Thankfully, you can spruce it up a little. For one, some people flatten the springs, making them more 2D than 3D. You can also bend the shape a little if you have the tools to make it less boxy. As a bonus, add a wooden frame around the edge of the trellis to support more weight, like that from squash or melons.

If you're looking to make the springs look nicer and catch the eye, a bit of spray paint can go a long way. This can help prevent the springs from rusting, plus it looks more visually appealing — at least until the plants vine enough to cover it up. For a little more personality, mark what is growing on the trellis and bring a bit of the beach to your garden with this adorable shell DIY.