| If you want to start a home vineyard, you will need | | | | season. The weight will naturally pull your posts |
| to build a grape trellis. How to build one is often a | | | | inward. The end posts, along will an anchoring system |
| point of concern for people just starting out. | | | | will help counteract that force. |
| However, it is really not very difficult. In fact, building | | | | The end posts should be planted at an angle, pointing |
| a home grape trellis is an easy weekend project. | | | | 60 degrees out and away from the rest of the trellis. |
| The first step is determining how long your row is | | | | You should also bury an anchor (dead man weight, |
| going to be. The recommended vine spacing for | | | | concrete, or anchor post) about 60 degrees out |
| most grape varieties is between 6 and eight feet. | | | | from the top of the end post. |
| This will help you determine how many vines to plant | | | | With the posts in place, the next step is to run the |
| between each post. | | | | trellis wire. The most common trellis system has two |
| When planning a grape trellis, how to arrange the | | | | rows of wire. One at 5 feet and the other at 8 feet. |
| posts is up to you. There are several factors to | | | | You will need 12.5 gauge high tensile stainless steel |
| consider, but here is a general guide: | | | | wire. High tensile wire won't stretch much and the |
| If you are going to plant your vines either 6 or 8 | | | | stainless steel will prevent rust. |
| feet apart, then you will want to space the posts | | | | There are different methods for running the wire. |
| about 24 feet apart. If you are spacing your vines | | | | Some people drill holes through each post in order to |
| seven feet apart, then you can choose to place | | | | run the wires. Another method is to attach the wires |
| posts either 21 or 28 feet apart. Do not place your | | | | to the outside of the post via staples. Others |
| posts more than 30 feet apart. Decide how long you | | | | hammer nails to the post and wrap wires around |
| want your trellis to be. This will determine how many | | | | each nail. |
| vines you can plant and how many posts you need | | | | Some people also install wire strainers with tension |
| to buy. | | | | springs. These are recommended if your trellis will be |
| The height of the posts will be determined by the | | | | longer than 200 feet. You will have to determine |
| type of grapes you grow and the type of training | | | | what works best for you and your budget. Wire |
| system you will be using. In general, 8 foot posts are | | | | tension should be set at about 250 pounds, |
| recommended. When choosing post material, choose | | | | One final consideration is whether or not to add |
| treated, rot-resistant lumber. | | | | further supports for the vines themselves. Towards |
| Using a post hole digger, bury all of the posts in the | | | | harvest time, the vines will be very heavy. You may |
| ground down to at least 2 inches deep. You should | | | | want to consider adding extra support between the |
| bury your end posts a little deeper than you line | | | | vines. |
| posts. | | | | Once you have your posts planted and your trellis |
| The end posts will look a little different from your line | | | | assembled, it will be time to plant your grapes. With |
| posts. There are several methods for bracing the end | | | | some attention and care, along will a little patience, |
| of a grape trellis. The idea is to provide extra support | | | | you will soon have a productive vine providing year |
| and tension on the wires. Your grapevines will | | | | after year or delicious grape harvests. |
| significantly increase in weight over the growing | | | | |