Successful gardens often seem to be studies in contrast. Great gardeners blend and contrast plant forms, colors, and textures, using each to its greatest advantage. Texture is an important element of this design equation and one of the main features of a post and wire trellis.

To create the illusion of depth in a shallow planting bed, designers recommend using a vertical display of fine-textured foliage as a backdrop for several plants with large, coarse leaves.

Although many trellises are designed to support a riot of flowers or a rambunctious layer of foliage, there are very few available to provide an adequate showcase for the type of delicate texture required in this situation. It may sound like a big challenge to build a trellis that accomplishes this mission, matches the average person's construction abilities, and falls within a reasonable budget, but this project is remarkably simple. By topping cedar posts with decorative finials and stringing a lattice of plastic-coated wire between them, you can create a trellis that would be ideal for many garden settings. The construction is simple, the materials are inexpensive, and the finished effect is stunning.

The best plants for this trellis are twining climbers with small leaves. Among annual vines you can try sweet pea or cardinal climber. Good perennial vines include trumpet creeper, English ivy, and winter creeper. You can put your climbers in the ground or select a variety that thrives in planters or pots. Be sure, however, that the plants you choose are well-suited to the light exposure they'll receive.