How to Build a Trelllis for Grapes

Grapevines bear white, green, purple, blue and even black fruit, with years of growth and production. These rustic plants produce long, twining vines, and require long-term support for air and sun exposure; they fail without this support. Build your grapes a strong, lasting trellis when you plant them to ensure healthy growth and fruit production.

Shovel/post-hole digger
Posts, 8 feet long, 3 to 4 inches in diameter
Wire, 8 gauge
Wire clippers
Wire clips
Measuring tape
Cement
Twine

Instructions

- 1
  Set posts for the trellis system at planting so you have soft, easily dug dirt and immediate grapevine support, which the vines require. Mark the line for the trellis 2 to 4 inches behind the grapevine row. Mark a line for each row of vines.
- 2
  Dig 3-foot-deep holes at the ends of each trellis row for your end posts. Dig 2-foot holes every 8 to 10 feet in the row for the rest of the posts. Close post spacing produces the most secure trellises.
- 3
  Place the posts in the holes and have someone hold them straight while you fill the holes with soil. Pack the soil down firmly to support the posts.
- 4
  Wrap wire around the top of the first post in the row, and secure the end with a wire clip. Move along the trellis row with the wire, wrapping once around the top of each post to build the first tier. Cut the wire at the last post and secure it with another clip.
- 5
  Repeat the process with another wire tier 1 to 2 feet below the first one. Add a third tier 1 to 2 feet below the second. Position the bottom tier at least 1 foot from the ground to keep fruit and foliage off the soil.

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