How do I Build an Inexpensive Grape Trellis?

Drive stakes into the end points where you want your grape trellis to be located. Stretch a string between the stakes to act as a guide for positioning your fence posts.

Dig holes for your fence posts, 2 1/4 feet deep. Space the holes 20 feet apart along the trellis. Fill each hole with a 2-inch layer of gravel.

Set 8 foot fence posts into these holes. Prop the posts upright and fill in around the sides of the pole with a 1-inch layer of gravel. Fill the hole with concrete. Wait for the concrete to dry before continuing.

Set end posts for the trellis that tilt away from the trellis line at a 45-degree angle from the ground.

Stretch two strands of wire between the posts at heights of 4 feet and 6 feet from the ground. Wrap these wire lines around the end post, then wrap the loose wire ends around the tightened wire strand eight turns. Attach the wire to the posts with fencing staples.

Tighten the wire so that it is taut between the posts using fence stretchers. A fence stretcher consists of a ratchet bar with a clamp at each end. Place the clamps over the wire so that one clamp is near the end of the fence post. Use the ratchet to move the two clamps closer together and take up slack in the wire. Loosen and re-wrap the wire at the ends to re-tighten it.