| Have you have decided to plant a vineyard, or even | | | | about 8-10 feet apart and orient the rows north to |
| a few grapevines? Don't even think about planting | | | | south so each vine gets maximum sunlight. The trellis |
| your grapes unless your grape trellis or arbor has | | | | needs to be strong enough to withstand the weight |
| been completed. Even the simplest structures require | | | | of the vine with a full crop of grapes. Allowance |
| some construction, and if you have already planted | | | | should also be made for local weather conditions |
| your grapes, you are sure to cause some damage. If | | | | including high winds. You will need to use pretreated |
| you are planting 3-4 vines in your backyard, you | | | | wood or metal for your posts and galvanized steel |
| probably want a decorative arbor, while any serious | | | | wire to run between the posts. I recommend that |
| planting requires a trellis. Without a trellis your | | | | you use treated wood posts at least 3" in diameter |
| grapevines will sprawl all over the ground, never | | | | and buy the best materials so your trellis will last for |
| produce any grapes, and probably rot or develop a | | | | at least 20 years. Place your poles 8 feet apart and |
| disease. The vines do not develop a trunk or | | | | sink them 2 feet into the ground. |
| branches that are strong enough to support | | | | They are best if you set them in concrete, and I |
| themselves. In addition, the most important factor in | | | | always coat the pole with roofing compound about |
| a vine's development is plenty of sunshine. | | | | an inch above the cement for extra protection |
| The grape trellis gets your vines up in the air and | | | | against moisture. At the ends of each row you need |
| spread out so each bud gets plenty of sun. Also a | | | | to install an anchor to keep the wire taught. About 6 |
| well designed trellis or arbor will allow you to grow a | | | | feet from the end of the row bury a 4 foot pole 3 |
| lot of vines in a limited space. That is the reason that | | | | feet into the ground angled away from the row. Drill |
| growing grapes is one of the most profitable crops | | | | a hole in the anchor and push the wire through using |
| on a per acre basis. If you want an arbor for the | | | | a wire clamp to hold it in place. Next drill each post |
| backyard, there are many prebuilt designs that you | | | | near the top and 3 feet off the ground. Run two |
| can buy at your local building supply for a reasonable | | | | lengths of 10-12 gauge galvanized wire from post to |
| cost. If you want to build your own, a search on the | | | | post pulling tight through the holes you drilled. There |
| internet will turn up a number of plans. A trellis must | | | | are other ways to build a trellis, but this method is |
| be constructed on site and should be designed to last | | | | the most popular. |
| a long time since many grapevines can produce for | | | | If you live in a cold climate and are planning to use |
| up to 30 years. In your planning you should allow an | | | | hybrid grapes there are some other designs you |
| area of about 8 feet by 8 feet for each vine. In | | | | might consider such as a T design with two wires |
| warm climates trellises are usually about 6 feet high, | | | | running at the 3 foot level. Whatever method of |
| and in colder climates they should not be higher than | | | | construction you choose, hopefully you can complete |
| three feet so your grapes aren't as exposed when | | | | the job in the fall before your first planting so as |
| winter weather arrives. | | | | soon as spring arrives you can get your plants in the |
| Normally you should plant your vineyard in rows | | | | ground and maximum growth the first year. |