How to Make a Vine Covered Pergola

Plant the vines within 6 inches of the pergola support base, following the planting instructions on the plant label. For pergolas installed over paved areas, set a potted vine at the base of each support.

Guide the vine to the pergola support. Tie the stem to the support loosely with a cloth plant tie.

Water and fertilize the vines as recommended on the plant care label for the specific vine variety. Most require 1 inch of water a week and benefit from a yearly application of a slow release, balanced fertilizer in spring.

Guide the vine up the support as it grows. Remove excess side branches to encourage vertical growth up the pergola support legs. Tie the vine in place where necessary to guide it as desired. Vines climb by either twining their main stem around the support or by sending out tendrils that cling to the pergola. Those that twine rarely require tying.

Bend the vine onto the top of the pergola once it grows tall enough. Tie it in place.

Pinch the top of the vine back to the topmost bud once it is on top the pergola. Pinching back the vine encourages the production of horizontal branching, which covers the roof of the pergola with more foliage and flowers.

Prune perennial vines annually. The pruning method depends on the type of vine, but in general cut back overgrown branches to within ¼ inch of a bud or leaf and cut out extra stems at the base of the vine. Twining vines may become bare near the bottom. Cut back bare vines to within 12 to 18 inches of the ground to force a fresh flush of growth.