Grape Trellis
Grapes grow on a vine. Vines are not strong enough to support themselves and need a trellis for support. Because grapes need a trellis in order to grow, their space requirement is modest. Grapes can be grown in small domestic backyards just as effectively as vineyards can grow them on a few hundred acres of property.
Although grapevines can be grown in a yard, they are a fairly large plant requiring a space of about eight feet by eight feet for each vine.
The appearance of a grape trellis depends upon who is growing the grapevine. It can be very decorative or it can be strictly functional. The grape trellis can take a variety of shapes and sizes to suit the needs of the grape grower and it can be fashioned from a variety of materials including iron, pretreated wood, stainless steel, PVC pipe, or aluminum. Trellis may be purchased but a simple functional design can be constructed easily by hand.
The grape trellis should be constructed before the grape vine is planted into the ground. Normally, taller trellises are used in warmer climates. A trellis that is shorter has a better chance withstanding winter weather and makes it easier to prepare the grapevine for winter. Shorter trellises use posts that are about three feet high. Larger trellises require a post that is about eight feet high.
Planning where your trellis is going to be should be considered before you start digging holes to place the poles into. Posts are set into the ground at a distance of eight feet apart. When you have mapped out your site, place the first post about two feet into the ground. Taller eight foot posts will be sticking about six feet out of the ground.
It takes several years before you will see a crop of grapes, so the trellis is going to be a permanent fixture for some time. So it is not a bad idea to cement the post into the ground. Posts can also be secured by using catch wires (guy wires) anchored to the ground or another much shorter post set in the ground next to your main post.
Two rows of galvanized steel wire need to be run between the posts. The first row runs along the bottom of the posts about three inches from the ground. The second wire should run along the top of the posts. Use a staple gun to staple the wires in place.
Purchasing a trellis for your grapevine is also an option that a lot of grape growers explore when looking to grow a small crop of grapes. The investment is more but you options are open. Just make sure to have good planning and have taken careful measurements as to where you would like your trellis to be to ensure that you buy a trellis that is right for you.
When your vine is planted and it begins to grow it will grow up along the two main trellis wires with some coaxing on your part. You can use string or cloth to tie the vine to the wires. Biodegradable natural materials are preferable on ecological grounds. Using wire to tie the shoot in place is not advisable as it may cut into the shoot and damage it, leaving the vine more vulnerable to infection by disease.
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