How to Grow Grapes on a Lattice Fence

Prepare the soil under and around the lattice fence. Grapes need composted soil, rich in phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. If these elements are missing from the soil, add them using a fertilizer.

Dig the holes for the grapevines approximately 6 to 10 feet apart along the supporting beams of your lattice fence. The supporting beams may be round or flat pieces of wood, which are used to join the lattice panels together. These give the bulk of the support to the vine and to the tendrils that branch out and hold the fruit.

Dig another small hole 10 to 12 inches from the hole for the plant that is 3 inches deep. Place 1/2 cup of 16-16-8 fertilizer into the hole and cover with the dirt.

Place the grapevines into the larger holes you dug along the support beams. Fill in the remainder of the hole with the dirt you had removed while digging the hole initially. Pack the dirt fairly tight around the plant and form a mound until all of the dirt that was in the hole has been used. The dirt will settle and pack itself down more over time.

Prune off weaker stems during the second summer after planting. Secure the strongest stem to your lattice fence with string. Do not tie the string too tight as that limits the growth of the stem. Tendrils will grow and form around the structure of the lattice fence to hold the stem in place. Check on the tie periodically. Once the stem is securely attached to the lattice, remove the string.

Weave vines through the holes in the lattice as they begin to form or secure loosely with string. As tendrils grow and form around the lattice, remove the string. This is not something you need to do often, but any ends of the vines that are not growing in the desired direction can be trained as needed using the string. The vines can be trained to grow vertically, horizontally or diagonally along each strip of the lattice.

Prune the vines at the end of each growing season. The vines will grow above and beyond the lattice; if not trimmed back, they could destroy the fence after only a couple of years because they will become too heavy for the lattice to support.