900mm vs 1.2m Fan Trellis: Which Width Should You Choose?

Choosing between 900mm and 1.2m Fan Trellis is mainly a question of available wall space and how broadly you want the plant to grow.

Both sizes provide the same tall fan-shaped concept.

The difference is that the 1.2m version gives approximately 300mm more overall width, creating a noticeably broader planting framework.

That extra width can be useful for vigorous climbers and larger blank walls. In a narrow position between windows, beside a doorway or on a compact shed wall, it can simply be unnecessary.

The best size is therefore not automatically the largest one. It is the one that fits both the wall and the mature plant.

What Sizes Of Fan Trellis Are Available?

Current East Coast Fencing Fan Trellis is available in two useful widths at approximately 1.83m high:

• Approximately 1.83m high x 900mm wide
• Approximately 1.83m high x 1.2m wide

Brown and green or natural-looking pressure-treated versions are available across suitable products.

East Coast Fencing manufactures the current Fan Trellis range in-house from rough-sawn pressure-treated trellis timber.

Both sizes use the characteristic tapered shape, beginning narrower near the bottom before spreading towards the top.

900mm vs 1.2m Fan Trellis At A Glance

How Much Bigger Is The 1.2m Fan Trellis?

The difference in nominal maximum width is approximately 300mm.

That is roughly 30cm or just under one foot.

On paper, the difference may not sound substantial.

Against a wall, however, an extra 300mm can matter considerably.

It can determine whether the trellis:

• Fits cleanly between windows
• Interferes with a drainpipe
• Extends towards a door opening
• Provides enough room for a vigorous plant
• Looks proportionate on a wide blank wall

This is why the choice should be made from the actual wall rather than simply assuming the wider version is better.

Which Fan Trellis Is Better For A Narrow Wall?

The 900mm version is normally the better starting point.

Its intentionally compact width makes it useful for focused planting positions where a broad rectangular trellis would be awkward.

Typical examples include:

• Between windows
• Beside a back door
• Between a door and drainpipe
• On a narrow shed wall
• Inside a compact courtyard
• Behind a small planting bed

Remember that the plant may eventually grow wider than the timber itself.

Do not choose a 900mm trellis simply because exactly 900mm of bare masonry is available.

When Is The 1.2m Fan Trellis Better?

Choose the 1.2m version when the plant needs more room to spread or the trellis is intended to become a more substantial feature.

The extra width is particularly useful where:

• The wall is broad and otherwise visually empty
• The climber is expected to produce substantial lateral growth
• You want flowers spread across a wider area
• The trellis itself will remain visible as part of the design

The current 1.2m product is specifically intended to provide a broader framework than the 900mm version while retaining the same tall fan profile.

Why Should You Measure At The Top Rather Than The Bottom?

Because Fan Trellis is tapered.

The lower section is deliberately narrower than the upper section.

If you measure only around the planting position at ground level, you may miss an obstruction higher up.

Before choosing a size, check the full approximately 1.83m-high area for:

• Windows
• Door frames
• Drainpipes
• Boiler flues
• Outside lights
• Vents
• Roof overhangs
• Neighbouring plant supports

The maximum width of the fan needs to fit at the level where that width actually occurs.

How Much Extra Space Should You Allow Around Fan Trellis?

Allow more than the bare timber dimensions where possible.

A climbing plant rarely restricts itself perfectly to the exact outline of its support.

As stems and foliage develop, they may extend beyond:

• The sides
• The top
• The front of the trellis

This matters particularly beside windows and doors.

The 1.2m trellis may fit the masonry perfectly while leaving insufficient room for the mature plant.

Which Size Is Better Between Two Windows?

Use the largest size that comfortably fits the complete space without interfering with either window or future maintenance.

In many narrow window bays, the 900mm version will be more practical.

Measure:

1. The distance between the window frames.
2. The available width at the top of the intended trellis position.
3. The distance from the plant to both windows.
4. The additional room required for foliage.

If the available wall section is comfortably wider, the 1.2m version gives more planting area.

Which Size Is Better Beside A Door?

The 900mm version will often be easier to accommodate.

A doorway needs more clearance than a static section of wall because people repeatedly move through the area.

Check the:

• Door swing
• Handle position
• Canopy
• Outdoor lighting
• Path beside the doorway

The wider 1.2m fan can still work where sufficient masonry is available, but leave room for the mature plant rather than measuring only the timber.

Which Size Is Better Beside A Garden Gate?

Again, the 900mm version often suits constrained spaces better.

A Garden Gate needs a completely unobstructed movement path.

Do not position Fan Trellis so that:

• The timber projects into the gate opening
• Climbing stems catch the gate
• The plant interferes with the latch

A wider 1.2m fan can be used where the trellis sits sufficiently far from the moving gate.

Which Size Is Better On A Shed Wall?

Both can work.

The choice depends mainly on the shed dimensions and where the structural framing lies behind the cladding.

Choose 900mm where:

• The shed side is narrow
• A window occupies part of the wall
• Only one compact climbing feature is wanted

Choose 1.2m where:

• A broad blank shed wall is available
• The plant will be allowed to spread more widely
• A larger decorative feature suits the proportions of the building

Fix into suitable structural timber rather than assuming thin shed cladding can support the trellis and mature plant.

Which Size Is Better For Clematis?

Either can work.

The choice depends on how much wall area you want the plant to occupy.

The 900mm Fan Trellis makes sense for a focused clematis display in a narrow bed.

The 1.2m version gives more lateral training area where the wall allows it.

Whatever size you choose, guide young growth onto different parts of the fan rather than allowing every stem to climb the same central route.

Which Size Is Better For Honeysuckle?

A broader 1.2m support can be useful where vigorous honeysuckle is expected to spread.

That does not mean the larger version automatically controls the plant.

Regular pruning may still be required to prevent growth from extending:

• Over windows
• Around gutters
• Across roofs
• Into neighbouring plants

Use the 900mm version where the planting position is deliberately compact and you are prepared to maintain the plant within that area.

Which Size Is Better For Jasmine?

Both can create an effective climbing framework for suitable jasmine.

The 900mm option suits smaller wall sections.

The 1.2m version provides more room to distribute stems and can create a broader planted feature.

Choose from the available space and expected plant spread rather than simply from the size of the young plant when purchased.

Which Size Is Better For A Climbing Rose?

The 1.2m version generally gives more useful lateral training area.

Climbing roses produce long stems that can be tied across a support rather than simply encouraged straight upwards.

An extra 300mm of width provides more positions for spreading suitable stems.

However, mature climbing roses can become large and woody.

A particularly substantial plant may eventually need a broader or more structural support system than either Fan Trellis size.

Does A Bigger Fan Trellis Support A Heavier Plant?

Do not assume that automatically.

The wider panel gives the plant more growing area, but the allowable plant load still depends on:

• The trellis construction
• The supporting wall or fence
• The fixings
• The condition of the supporting timber

A 1.2m Fan Trellis should therefore be selected for additional growing area rather than as a substitute for a purpose-designed heavy plant support.

Does The 1.2m Version Catch More Wind?

It presents more timber and potentially supports a broader mass of foliage than the 900mm version.

The difference becomes more important after planting.

A bare fan remains open.

A mature climber can fill much of that open area with:

• Leaves
• Stems
• Flowers

The broader the mature planted area, the more important it becomes that the wall or fence fixings are secure.

Does The Plant Matter More Than The Trellis Width?

Often, yes.

A carefully managed climber on 900mm Fan Trellis may impose less load than a vigorous plant allowed to become heavily overgrown across the 1.2m version.

Consider:

• Mature plant size
• Whether it is evergreen or deciduous
• How frequently it will be pruned
• Whether stems become woody

The trellis is only one part of the completed planting system.

Should You Choose 1.2m To Avoid Pruning?

No.

The wider Fan Trellis gives more space, but it does not remove the need to control a vigorous climber.

Plants can easily extend beyond a 1.2m support if conditions suit them.

Choose the wider panel because you want a broader display, not because you expect it to contain unrestricted growth permanently.

Which Size Is Better In A Small Garden?

The 900mm version is particularly useful where the garden needs vertical planting without covering a large section of wall.

This suits:

• Courtyards
• Narrow side returns
• Small patios
• Compact borders

The 1.2m version can still work in a small garden where a wider blank wall needs softening.

Use the available wall area efficiently rather than automatically trying to minimise the trellis.

Which Size Creates The Stronger Decorative Feature?

The 1.2m version.

Its broader upper outline creates greater visual presence before planting becomes established.

This can be useful where the trellis itself should remain part of the design rather than disappearing completely behind foliage.

The 900mm version is more restrained.

It works particularly well where you want the plant to become the main feature and the timber support to occupy less wall area.

Should You Use Several 900mm Fan Trellis Panels Instead Of One Wide Rectangular Trellis?

Only where separate individual planting features are genuinely wanted.

Fan Trellis is not designed to create a continuous rectangular screen.

Several fans installed side by side will leave open spaces around their tapered lower sections.

If the intention is to support several plants across a long continuous area, a rectangular trellis panel may provide a more efficient framework.

Can You Put Two Fan Trellis Panels Close Together?

Yes, but leave enough room for the upper sections and plants.

Two 1.2m fans placed too close together can overlap visually or encourage climbing plants to become tangled into one large mass.

Plan the centres around:

• The fan width
• The plant position
• Mature plant spread
• Maintenance access

Repeated 900mm fans can work well where several individual planting features are intended along a long wall.

Can 900mm And 1.2m Fan Trellis Be Used Together?

Yes.

There is no requirement for every Fan Trellis in a garden to have the same width.

For example, you might use:

• 900mm between windows
• 1.2m on a broad garage wall
• 900mm beside a doorway

The shared approximately 1.83m height and fan profile can give the garden a consistent family of planting supports while allowing each location to use an appropriate width.

Can Fan Trellis Be Fixed To A Fence?

Yes, where the fence and supporting arrangement are suitable.

The trellis should be attached to sound structural timber rather than relying on weak or deteriorated boards.

Before choosing between 900mm and 1.2m, check:

• Available fence width
• Fence Post positions
• Panel condition
• The intended mature plant

The wider 1.2m fan may place more of the planted display across a single Fence Panel, so structural support becomes increasingly important as the plant develops.

Can Fan Trellis Be Used For Privacy?

Neither width is intended to create complete privacy.

Fan Trellis is a tapered plant support rather than a rectangular screening panel.

The 1.2m version covers more wall area than the 900mm version, but that does not make it a privacy panel.

Even once planted, open sections remain around the tapered outline.

Choose Privacy Square Trellis, Horizontal Slatted Trellis or a suitable Fence Panel where continuous screening is the main requirement.

Does The 1.2m Version Need More Wall Fixings?

The fixing arrangement should be chosen for the actual trellis construction, wall substrate and mature plant load rather than from width alone.

A wider planted area can place greater demands on the support, but there is no universal fixing count that should be applied to every wall.

Before installation, determine whether the supporting surface is:

• Brick
• Blockwork
• Rendered masonry
• Structural timber

Then use an appropriate exterior fixing method.

Should Both Sizes Have A Gap Behind Them?

Yes, where they are being used for climbing plants against a wall.

A practical stand-off provides room for:

• Plant stems
• Soft ties
• Airflow
• Pruning
• Future maintenance

The required gap does not necessarily change simply because the trellis is 900mm or 1.2m wide.

It should be determined by the plant and fixing system.

Can You Cut The 1.2m Fan Trellis Down To 900mm?

That is generally unnecessary and best avoided.

The two standard widths already exist specifically for different spaces.

Cutting a fan-shaped trellis can:

• Destroy the intended tapered proportions
• Create unsupported timber ends
• Leave one side visually unbalanced

If the 1.2m version is too wide, choose the 900mm product rather than buying the wider version and trying to reshape it.

Can You Shorten Either Fan Trellis In Height?

Modification is generally less straightforward than with a conventional rectangular trellis panel.

The approximately 1.83m height forms part of the complete fan profile.

Removing the upper section would also remove the widest part of the design.

If the available height is substantially lower than 1.83m, another trellis style may suit the space better.

Does Brown Or Green Treatment Change Which Width You Need?

No.

The width decision should be based on space, planting and appearance.

Brown and green or natural treatment options primarily affect the initial colour.

Both remain pressure-treated outdoor timber products.

Expect natural characteristics such as:

• Grain
• Knots
• Saw texture
• Treatment variation
• Gradual weathering

Should You Match Fan Trellis To Existing Fence Colour?

You can if visual continuity matters.

A brown-treated Fan Trellis may sit naturally alongside similarly treated fencing and posts.

A green or natural-looking option may coordinate better with corresponding treated garden timber.

Remember that treatment colour changes with outdoor exposure, so do not expect old and newly installed timber to remain identical in shade.

Which Size Is Easier To Paint?

The 900mm version has less timber area overall, so there is less surface to coat.

Both shapes still contain numerous:

• Edges
• Intersections
• Internal faces

If a decorative exterior coating is planned, applying it before a climbing plant covers the trellis will normally be far easier.

Which Size Is Easier To Replace Later?

Either can remain reasonably straightforward to replace if the plant has been trained with future maintenance in mind.

Avoid weaving substantial permanent stems so tightly through the timber that the Fan Trellis cannot be removed.

Instead, suitable tying can make it easier to:

• Support the plant temporarily
• Release it from the old trellis
• Maintain the wall
• Install a replacement support

This matters regardless of whether the panel is 900mm or 1.2m wide.

How Do You Choose Between 900mm And 1.2m Fan Trellis?

1. Measure the available width: Check the wall at the widest part of the fan.
2. Allow for nearby features: Include windows, doors, pipes, vents and lights.
3. Allow for the plant: Mature foliage will extend beyond the bare timber.
4. Consider the intended visual effect: Decide whether you want a compact support or a broader feature.
5. Think about mature growth: A vigorous plant may benefit from additional width.
6. Check the supporting surface: Make sure the wall or fence can carry the mature planted trellis.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Fan Trellis Width

• Assuming the 1.2m version is automatically better because it is larger
• Measuring only the narrow base of the fan
• Forgetting that the plant will extend beyond the timber
• Installing a 1.2m fan too close to a window
• Using 900mm where a broad blank wall would benefit from more planting area
• Choosing from the size of the young plant rather than its mature growth
• Expecting a wider fan to contain a vigorous climber without pruning
• Buying 1.2m with the intention of cutting it down to 900mm
• Assuming the wider product provides meaningful privacy
• Ignoring wall or fence strength
• Positioning the trellis around the timber but forgetting access for doors, windows and drainpipes
• Allowing mature plants to completely hide the fixing points

FAQs

What Sizes Does Fan Trellis Come In?

Current East Coast Fencing Fan Trellis is approximately 1.83m high and available in widths around 900mm and 1.2m.

Is 900mm Or 1.2m Fan Trellis Better?

Neither is universally better. Choose 900mm for narrower planting positions and 1.2m where you have more wall space and want a broader climbing display.

Which Fan Trellis Is Better For Clematis?

Both can work. The 900mm version suits a focused individual plant, while the 1.2m version provides more lateral space where a larger display is wanted.

Which Fan Trellis Is Better For A Climbing Rose?

The 1.2m version gives more room for spreading and tying stems, but large mature climbing roses may eventually need more substantial support than ordinary Fan Trellis alone.

Can You Cut 1.2m Fan Trellis Down To 900mm?

It is generally better to buy the standard 900mm version. Cutting the wider fan can disrupt its tapered shape and leave timber sections requiring additional support.

Is Fan Trellis 1.83m Wide?

No. The current orientation is approximately 1.83m high, with maximum widths around 900mm or 1.2m. This is important when measuring the available wall space.

Which Fan Trellis Is Better Between Windows?

The 900mm version often suits narrow wall sections better, but measure the available width where the fan is widest and allow additional room for mature plant growth.

Does 1.2m Fan Trellis Give More Privacy?

It covers a broader area, but Fan Trellis is not designed as a privacy panel. Its tapered outline and open lattice are intended primarily for individual climbing plants and decorative use.

Choose The Width From The Wall And The Mature Plant

The 900mm and 1.2m Fan Trellis perform the same basic job.

Both are approximately 1.83m high. Both start relatively narrow and widen towards the top. Both are designed to support individual climbing plants while creating a softer shape than a conventional rectangular trellis panel.

The difference is the amount of lateral space they provide.

Choose 900mm where the planting position is compact, particularly between windows, beside doors, around patios or on smaller shed walls.

Choose 1.2m where the wall is broad enough to accommodate a larger feature and the plant will benefit from more room to spread.

Do not make the decision from the narrow bottom of the fan.

Measure the full wall area at approximately 1.83m height, account for the widest part of the trellis and leave additional space for mature foliage.

Then think about the plant itself. A wider Fan Trellis provides more training area, but it does not remove the need for pruning or make lightweight trellis suitable for unlimited mature plant weight.

The best size is the one that gives the plant useful room to develop without making the wall, doorway or surrounding garden unnecessarily crowded.