How to Trellis a Grapevine

A trellis is essential for growing grapevines, whether you are growing an entire vineyard or just a few grapevines in your backyard. A trellis is a structure made from pre-treated wood and galvanized wire that is designed to support grapevines for many years. Grapevines are not strong enough to support themselves; use of a trellis will help the vines flourish. Pre-treated wood, along with galvanized wire, will last longer than other types of wood or wire. It is important that the trellis lasts as the grapevines may be there for 25 to 30 years.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Pre-treated wood posts 3 to 8 feet high
• 10 or 12 gauge galvanized wire
• Sledgehammer
• Grapevines

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Be sure to position your trellis so that grapevines will receive maximum sunlight per day (about eight to 12 hours). Hammer the pre-treated wood posts about 6 to 8 feet apart into the ground using a sledgehammer. You also can dig holes about 2 feet deep into the ground and put the posts in the holes, still spacing them 6 to 8 feet apart.

   • 2

     String at least two strands of the 10 to 12 gauge galvanized wire (with about 1 foot between each strand) from the first post to the last post.

   • 3

     Tie the grapevines loosely onto the wires.

   • 4

     Continue to train and tie the grapevines along the wires as they grow and flourish throughout the year.