DIY Copper Trellis Tutorial

Are you ready for Spring?  I know I am!  We had an easy Winter here in Michigan, but I'm still excited for the warm days of Spring.  I'm most excited about being able to get back in the yard and garden.  I made this copper trellis last Winter and had it out in the yard last Summer.  It's an easy project and can make a huge impact in your landscaping.  This is the perfect project to make now during the last couple of weeks of Winter as you wait for Spring!

Supplies you will need:

A.  (7) 5' long 1/2 diameter copper pipes

B.  (24) copper tees; 1/2" size

C.  (4) end caps; 1/2" size

D.  (4) 45 degree connectors; 1/2" size

E.  (2) 90 degree connectors; 1/2" size

F.  Gorilla Glue

G.  Pipe or tube cutter (make sure you buy one designed for copper or brass)

H.  Permanent marker

I.  Tape measure

OK, now you can get to work cutting your copper pipes!  Here's what you need:

- (14) 10" long pieces

- (16) 1" long pieces

- (8) 20" long pieces

- (4) 12" long pieces

- (2) 10.5" long pieces

Use your tape measure and permanent marker to mark where you will need to cut.  The pipe cutter takes a bit getting used to, but once you do, it's very easy to use.

Now, the fun part!  Make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands when you glue your pipe together.  Trust me, the Gorilla Glue is strong stuff - you do not want it on your skin!

Gather 4 of the 10" pipe lengths and 8 copper tees.  Glue one tee to each end.  Squeeze glue to the inside of the tees, and insert pipe.   Use a flat surface so that the tees are lined up on each side. 

Next, gather 4 of the 1" pieces.  Glue to the inside of 2 of the copper tees and pipe units.  See photo below:

Place the 2 pipe units without the 1" pieces standing upright on a flat surface.  Take the 2 units with the 1" pieces and place perpendicular to the other units.  Glue together at 4 connection points.

This photo explains what I'm talking about a little better.  The 1" pieces disappear between the 2 tee pieces.

Repeat this entire process two more times until you have a total of 3 units that look just like the photo above. 

Let pieces dry for several hours or overnight.

Now, take 4 of the 20" long pieces and glue to one of the units you made earlier. 

Glue another unit on top of the 20" pipes and then glue on 4 more 20" pieces. 

Glue the final unit to the top of the (4) 20" pieces.  Glue 4 more of the 1" pieces to the very top.

Almost done!  Glue a 45 degree connector piece to each of the 1" pieces at the top.  Glue the 45 degree connector so that it is facing the center of the trellis.

Take one of the 90 degree connector pieces and glue a 10" piece to each side.

Glue to two of the 45 degree connector pieces on the trellis located at opposite corners.

Take the other 90 degree connector piece and glue a 10.5" piece to each side.  Glue this to the 2 remaining 45 connector pieces on the trellis.

Glue an end cap to each end of the 12" long pipe pieces.  Place the trellis on its side and glue each of the 12" pieces to the bottom the trellis.  Let dry overnight before using.

Here is a shot of the trellis after I finished it but before anything was growing on it:

Here are a few completed photos.  Like I mentioned, it was Winter when I made this, so I was thrilled when the weather warmed up and I was able to put the trellis to good use in our landscaping.  I found the perfect spot in our front yard and planted Morning Glories at the base of the trellis.

The Morning Glories seemed to love the trellis - they grew like crazy!

By August, the trellis was almost completely covered in vines.  I think it's so pretty and I loved how it looked in our front landscape.  I think I'll be putting it in the same spot this year.

I have a few other recommendations for what to grow on the trellis.  Clematis (A) is one of my favorite perennial vines.  There are so many beautiful varieties.  I'm thinking this copper trellis could be a very elegant and pretty alternative to a traditional tomato cage (B).  Hyacinth Bean (C) is one of my very favorite annual vines!  It grows quickly and the flower spikes are gorgeous.  The flowers dry into pods with seeds.  You can easily dry the seeds and then grow again the following year.

I've shared this post with Marty at her Inspire Me Tuesday Party.

How to Freeze Tomatoes - The Easy Way!

I planted 9 tomato plants this year in my new raised beds, and boy, they are all going crazy! (I post lots of pictures from my garden on Instagram, if you'd like to see, click here)   Last week it seemed as though all the full size tomatoes were ready for picking...all at once.  I was going out of town for a few days and knew I wouldn't be able to use the tomatoes up before I left, so I decided to freeze them for use later in the year.  It was quick and easy, and I know I will be happy to have these in the freezer this winter.

 How to Freeze Tomatoes:

1.  Fill a large pot of with water and heat to a boil.  Depending on how many tomatoes you have, you may find it best to start two pots.

2.  Use a paring knife to slice a "x" in the bottom of each tomato, then, core each tomato.

3.  When water is boiling, drop in tomatoes.  6-8 tomatoes at once is good, depending on their size.  Boil tomatoes for 3-7 minutes.  You will know when they are done by looking at the skin - if the skin has stared to peel and is shriveled, they are ready to remove from the water.  Remove and place in bowls.  Depending on how many tomatoes you have, you may need to repeat this process.

4.  Tomatoes will be very hot, so let them cool until you can handle them.  Using your hands, pull the skin away from the tomato; discard skin.  Use a knife to roughly chop up the tomatoes.  You may find it easiest to chop the tomatoes right in the bowl - that way, you won't lose any of the juices.  Using a ladle, place tomatoes and juices in quart size freezer bags.  Carefully remove as much air as you can before sealing the bags.  Place in freezer and start thinking of ways to use these this winter!

One night's harvest in the garden resulted in 4 quart bags of tomatoes!  I seem to make recipes calling for canned tomatoes quite often, so I know these will come in handy this winter. 

I'm off to pick more tomatoes from the garden!

Weekend Kitchen: Tortellini, Pesto, & Mozzarella Skewers

I've found the perfect summer appetizer!  It's fresh, simple, and super easy to put together.  What could be better?

Tortellini, Pesto, & Mozzarella Skewers

Ingredients:

- Cheese tortellini

- Fresh mozzarella balls

- Cherry tomatoes

- Fresh basil leaves

- Pesto (prepared or homemade)

- Skewers (the ones I used are 6" long)

* Quantity of ingredients depends on how many skewers you want to make.

1.  Cook tortellini according to package instructions.  Drain and place in a bowl. Mix in a small amount of pesto so that the pasta doesn't stick together.

2.  Assemble skewers.  Lay first row of skewers on platter and spoon pesto over the tortellini. Continue layering on assembled skewers and topping the tortellini with pesto.

3.  That's it!  Serve and enjoy.

All of a sudden, my cherry tomatoes are ripening by the dozen, so this was the perfect appetizer to make.  The basil also came from my garden (see this post).  It's so nice having fresh produce outside my back door!

Don't the skewers make for a pretty presentation?  

How to Propagate Basil

If you follow me on Instagram you may remember the photo I shared of tiny basil clippings lined up on my windowsill back in April.  I'm pleased to say that the propagating technique worked and my garden is now bursting with basil.  If you love basil as much as I do, you are going to want to try this!

 

1.  Start with a healthy basil plant from the grocery store or garden nursery.

 

 

2.  Cut of sections of basil at the top of the plant, making sure to cut the center stem at the intersection of 3 stems.  See example in photo below:

 

 

 

3.  Place each basil cutting in a small glass jar filled with water.

 

 

4.  Place jars in a sunny windowsill.  Watch water levels and refill with fresh water every few days.

 

 

 

 

5.  In a couple of weeks, small roots will appear!  Continue to refill water in jars until roots are 1/2" to an 1" long.

 

 

 

 

6.  Plant each cutting outside in your garden and watch it grow!  If you don't have a garden, basil grows very well in containers.  Plant a big pot with your cuttings and you'll be all set.

 

Who knew that propagating basil would be so easy!  I can't wait to enjoy countless capreses and lots of pesto this summer.