Here are our 2 trellis my DH made. This is the first one he did. Pretty plain but he was so proud! A couple days later I stopped at a yard sale and found the "decorations." This next one will be one "leg" of an arch to go over a bench. These are the 3 colors of our house. Here is a link that might be useful: Trellis

Dirtbert, You're method of "rainbowing" them makes perfect sense. That's what I love about this forum...how friendly forum members share with each other for the betterment of all! It also makes me glad I posted the photo to get the thread going, even though it wasn't a perfectly beautiful example, all neat and tidy. I'm also glad to know I don't have to drive all the way to Dad's, unload his trailer, go get my load, return the trailer and reload Dad's equipment. This way is much easier. Zengeos, Think about the 52" running the LENGTH of the pickup. When you tuck each 52" end in along the length of the pickup it will automatically form the rainbow shape dirtbert is referring to, and will make your pickup resemble a covered wagon. Or maybe I'm mistaken about which way is best to position them. Maybe its a covered wagon turned 90 degrees?

Re: growth rates - you hear it applied to all sorts of other plants, but this saying truly applies to clematis: the first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap. It takes time for a clematis vine to become fully established and you will most often get your best results both in vigor of growth and production of flowers from year 3 onward. In the Seattle area, there are few locations where one can't grow clematis. Just avoid areas that receive too much shade - light shade is fine for many types. Also areas that may receive too much root competition from other established trees and shrubs. And understanding the reason behind the coda of shading the roots expands the possibilities - it's not so much as the roots requiring shade as it is not allowing the soil around them to dry out. And shady soil generally holds moisture better than open, sunny soil. But if you water appropriately in summer and mulch the root zone well, you can plant clematis in a full on, full sun southern position without fear. A couple of other notes on new clematis: prepare a generous planting hole, well-enriched with organic amendments. Plant the vine 3-4 inches below the level it was in the container, generally up to the first set of leaf buds. And prune all types of clematis hard after the first season in the ground. Both the deep planting and the hard pruning will encourage the development of a healthy root system and the production of additional basal shoots, increasing resistance to wilt problems. As to trellis or support size, research the expected size of the clem of your choice and select a trellis or support accordingly. And even this is not a hard and fast rule but merely a guideline. I've grown larger types of clematis on rather short supports - they just grow to the top, then cascade over, making a waterfall effect that is pretty stunning come flowering time.

I've been ordering from Northstar Wrought Iron for a long time - great obelisks and pillars, and great quality for the money. All of their products are powder-coated, retaining their new appearance. This year, I ordered some of their pot rings and love them! Great for hanging on fences - adds height interest. Check 'em out www.northstarwroughtiron.com