Garden Arbor Bench with Trellis Sides

Cut the four 6x6 posts to length and notch the tops per your layout — this is what the upper rails will seat into. Dig four holes 24" deep, set the posts, brace them plumb, and pour concrete around the base of each one.

Let the concrete cure before putting any load on the posts. Everything else in this build — bench, trellis, all of it — hangs off these four posts, so an out-of-plumb post here is a problem you'll be fighting for the rest of the build.

Cut the two 2x6 upper rails to length, notch the ends to match the post notches, and screw them into place near the top of the posts on both sides.

Install the five 2x2 mid rails below the upper rails on each side, then notch the posts for the 2x4 lower cross braces and install those — measuring up from the ground to account for how deep you buried the posts, so the seat ends up at a sittable height.

Cut the five 2x4 seat support braces and screw them between the posts at seat height. Cut the seven 2x6 slats to length and screw them across the supports for the seat and backrest.

Clamp each slat level before driving screws if you're working alone — a slat that's screwed down slightly twisted is hard to fix after the fact.

Cut the trellis uprights and lattice pieces per the cut list, then assemble each trellis frame flat on the ground before attaching it to the sides — it's far easier to keep a lattice square on a flat surface than fastening piece by piece in place vertically.

Attach the finished trellis panels to the outside of each side, between the posts.