Last winter we posted an article on how to build a T- trellis which would be suitable for growing large heavy vines like kiwis. Today we are going to show you how to build a trellis for your grapevines. This type of trellis works well for grapes or other smaller vines. It’s good for small backyards with limited space and can work as a privacy barrier as it is 2-dimensional. It is modeled after the trellis method used by many commercial vineyards, and allows you to easily prune and manage your grapes.
The idea with this type of trellis is that your main cordons run along the top wire. The fruit and all the wood that is removed annually hangs down below in a single layer. This makes it easy to pick the fruit, spray the plants thoroughly, and it makes winter pruning a breeze.
To make this type of trellis you need posts, wire and anchors of some sort. It’s ideal to use high tensile wire and tensioners, but if you don’t already have the tools for working with high tensile wire on hand you can use regular wire. Particularly for small backyard trellises it works just fine with the caveat that you will probably have some sag in your wires when the vines get heavy.
How to make a trellis that doesn’t use high tensile wire or special tools.
Tools & Materials Needed:
- 8’ long pressure treated posts. These can be 8’ wood fence posts, pressure treated 4×4’s or something like landscape timbers. See below to calculate the number of posts needed.
- 2 metal T-posts 5’ long
- Wire staples
- Flexible wire. We use 14 gauge galvanized electric fence wire as it is strong, flexible, versatile and something we always have around.
- Shovel
- Level
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Drill & bits
Now let’s get started building!
First, you need to set your posts. We usually use landscape timbers around here because they are inexpensive, and our soil is dry enough that they last a long time without rotting. If your soil is wetter you may wish to invest in more expensive fence posts to ensure your trellis lasts long-term. It is not easy to replace rotten posts when they are holding the weight of several vines.
How far apart the posts are spaced will depend on a few variables. Select a distance that makes sense for your backyard, but aim for no more than about 20-24’ between posts. Keep in mind that if you are not using tensioned wire you may wish to increase the number of support posts to help hold your wires up. On our non-tensioned trellis pictured above we have posts about every 12′ alternating with our vines.
Bury your posts in the ground about 2’ deep leaving 6’ above the ground. We find a 6’ tall trellis to be a very suitable height for working with. It is tall enough to provide plenty of growing space, but it does not require a ladder for pruning or picking. Plus, it uses the most readily available lumber length.
Use the level to make sure your posts are reasonably vertically straight before you backfill your holes. You may wish to use a string line in addition to the level to line up your posts. Keep in mind they need to be straight, and also as close to in line with each other as possible. A leaning or out of line post is only going to lean more after the weight of vines is added. When satisfied your posts are straight, refill the holes. Tamp your dirt thoroughly as you backfill the hole.
Once your posts are set, you need to install your anchors.
The easiest way to make this trellis is to use anchor posts at the end, so that is what we are discussing here. The anchor posts are posts angled outwards at a 60 degree angle. Take your T-posts and pound them into the ground at about a 60 degree angle. The top of the pole should be pointing away from your line posts. Anchors should be placed somewhere between 5 and 10 feet beyond your last post. Pound them about 3’ into the ground as it is important to make sure your T-posts are well anchored in the soil.
Alternatively you can use wood anchor posts or a brace such as the H-brace we described in our T-trellis article if you are looking for a more polished look or a sturdier trellis. In this article we are using angled braces as our trellis is short and H-braces are an unnecessary overkill. Because we do not have an auger, we opted to use metal T-posts as our anchors. We would recommend you do the same, particularly if you aren’t using high tensile wire. Otherwise, you might have trouble with your posts pulling out of the disturbed soil if you hand dig holes to set wood posts on an angle.
Once you have your posts in place it is time to run your wires.
You can choose whether to use a single or a multiple wire system. We typically use a double wire system. We run our cordons on the top wire, but the middle wire helps us support the vines when they are young and being trained.
To run your wires, thoroughly tie off the end of the wire to your first T-post, It is a good idea to wrap it several times so that it will not slip up the pole. You want to do this somewhat lower down on the pole so that you are not putting leverage on the very tip of it. Its best not to put it at the soil line though so you can easily trim around the post without catching the wire.
Run the wire up and over the top of your line posts securing it loosely with a staple. When you reach the other end tie the wire off to the second brace pulling it as tightly as you can get it. Try to tie off your wires in a way in which you can detach and re-tighten them in the future if needed.
If you are running a second wire, use your drill to drill holes through each post at 3’ from the ground.
The hole should be big enough for your wire to easily slip through. Feed the wire through each of your posts. Wrap the wire around your end posts and tie it back to itself.
And that’s it! At this point you should have an inexpensive, functional trellis that will allow your grapes or other vines to be manageable and productive. If you need help understanding how to prune grapevines using a trellis like this, please take a quick look at our grape pruning article for some tips.
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