How do I Build a Grapevine Arbor?
Grapevines are graceful, trailing plants that have gained a largely unwarranted reputation as being difficult to grow. In reality, grapes can thrive and turn in a bountiful fruit harvest under the right growing conditions: sun, warmth, protection and adequate drainage. As vining plants, grapes also require supporting structures to keep their leaves and fruit off the ground. Build a grapevine arbor to support your plants and keep them healthy and growing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden posts (8 feet long, 3- to 4- inches in diameter)
- Wire (9 to 11 gauge)
- Hammer
- Shovel
- Wire cutters
- Felt ties
Instructions
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Lay the wooden posts on the ground immediately behind the grapevines to plan your trellis spacing. Decide whether you want to put one support behind each grapevine cane or use a more widely spaced plan. Supports may be spaced as widely as 20 feet apart and still offer adequate structure. Dig holes 3 feet deep for each support, and pack soil around them for support.
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Wrap the end of a length of wire around the top of the first post in line and run the wire to the next post. If your arbor system consists of several posts, wrap the wire once around that top of each post and continue on to the next. Secure the wire at the last post with several wrappings, then cut it.
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Run another wire between the posts 1 1/2 feet below the first wire to build a second level, and then a third wire 1 1/2 feet below that. The bottom wire should be at least 1 foot above the ground. Three wires are not strictly necessary, but do offer more room for grapevine growth. Use the felt ties to attach grapevine canes up to the poles and wires, and train the stems and vines along the wires to give them support. Eventually the vines will learn to grow along the wires on their own.
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References
- Photo Credit grapes image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
