Looking to add some privacy to your backyard? You might be thinking about traditional fences, trellises, or screens. But here’s the thing – they can feel clunky, hide all that gorgeous greenery, and block out natural light. So why not go with something lighter and more charming instead? Here’s a neat trick: use some fishing line to build an invisible trellis, then let morning glory vines (Ipomoea purpurea) climb right up it. No bulky wood or metal framework needed – just beautiful leaves and flowers doing all the work. Just keep in mind that while morning glories thrive in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 11, they’re actually invasive in some parts of the country. Before you dive in, check whether they’re considered invasive where you live. If they are, no worries – you can swap them out for equally lovely climbers like ivy, star jasmine, or Armand clematis instead. Whichever plant you pick, putting together this invisible trellis is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need some wood for the frame, fishing line, and your climbing plants.
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Creating an invisible morning glory trellis on a patio
There are a couple of ways you can tackle this project depending on where you need the privacy screen. Say you want to set it up on your porch – you’d start by grabbing two pieces of wood cut to match the width of the opening you want to cover. Next, wrap some fishing line around one piece of wood at evenly spaced intervals. Screw that piece of wood up to your roof to create the top of your invisible trellis.
From there, let the fishing lines hang straight down above the pot where you’ll plant your morning glories. Wrap each strand of fishing line around your second piece of wood, tie them off, and trim away any extra. Pop that second piece of wood right into your plant pot. Now you’ve got multiple invisible lines ready to help your morning glories climb without any of that heavy fence or trellis look. The best part? Since the fishing lines are right there next to the plants in the pot, the vines can grab onto them super easily.
Building an invisible trellis frame in your yard
Want to do this out in your yard? You’ll need to build your own frame for the fishing line since you won’t have a roof to attach it to. Grab three pieces of wood and paint them in whatever color you like. An earthy tone is a great choice if you want the frame to blend nicely with the surroundings. Then screw the pieces together to make an arch shape – think of it like a square missing one side. Stand the two parallel pieces upright so the third piece can be your top beam. To keep those vertical pieces steady, you can either screw them onto something nearby like a raised garden bed, or sharpen the ends into points and drive them into the ground. Pro tip: wet the soil a bit first to make it easier.
Once your frame is standing, drill some holes in the vertical wood pieces and string your fishing line horizontally between the posts. Plant your morning glories underneath. Since the fishing line runs horizontally, you might want to stick some small dowels or branches in the soil to give the plants a boost up to that first row of line. Keep an eye on them as they grow and help guide their tendrils toward the fishing line, and you’ll have a stunning living privacy screen in no time.
