Making trellises for grapes
The grape culture is distinguished by the thinness and fragility of the vines with their strong growth. Without an organized support, a plant cannot develop, grow and produce crops. A grape trellis will eliminate all of these problems. The main thing is to take into account some of the subtleties of manufacturing.
Making trellises for grapes
Why are grapes tied to trellises
The grapes cannot exist without support. It is important for the culture to receive sunlight and be well ventilated, but with the huge size of the lignified vines and shoots, this will not work. The only way out is to tie the plant to a trellis or pergola.
Vineyard trellises are needed not only for this: in an upright position, the crop receives more sunlight, is more actively synthesized and gives a greater yield.
The size of the trellis for grapes is smaller than the arched structures. The device is limited to the installation of only 2-4 posts at a short distance from each other. And if there is a need to plant 3-4 bushes in the country, building a trellis for grapes will be the best option possible.
There are types of designs that only have a decorative function.
Types of trellises
Growing grapes on the site, it is impossible to do without reliable support. It is an integral part of the proper care of the planted crop. An alternative to conventional grape trellis are natural, natural vertical supports. Vine growers in Georgia and Western Europe often tied the vine to the crown and trunk of a tree. The inconvenience and economy of space forced people to tie the aerial parts of plants to a compact trellis for grapes.
The installation of a trellis for grapes or an arched structure is carried out even before planting the bushes or in the first year of their habitation on the site. The most popular are the following types of grape trellis:
- Single-plane trellis. They are several vertical pillars installed in 1 row, connected by horizontal supports. The interconnected structural elements form a single vertical plane. There is also a single-plane version with two parallel lines of horizontal supports and a scheme with a visor.
- Two-plane trellis for grapes. An option that requires more space on the site than when building a single-plane. This is a pair of single-plane options installed at a short distance from each other. The two-plane version of the structures can be both parallel to each other and inclined, v-shaped.
- Decorative designs. They serve as decorative functions for home gardens. Maiden grapes are planted in them, which creates a hedge that gives shade under the scorching sun. These can be wooden gazebos, metal wrought-iron arches and Italian-style mesh pergolas.
The tent model of the structure is also very popular, but it is not necessary to erect it on the home site: it requires a huge space on the site and is used only for industrial purposes.
What kind of trellis to build
The choice of trellises is influenced by the number of bushes
Considering the number of shrubs planted (or ready for planting), the landscape features of the site, the varietal characteristics of the culture and other factors, the grower will have a choice between different types of grape trellis.
The first thing that is important to decide what is more important: functionality or decorativeness. If the goal is viticulture, a 1 or 2-plane model is used, which will serve as the main development of the planted culture and create convenience in caring for the plants. They take into account the size of the vineyards, the available materials and experience in the construction of such structures. If there is no experience, they use the services of specialists who, for a certain amount, will make a reliable support for the planted culture with their own hands.
If grape trellises are made by hand, in the future it is easier to correct any errors in the work, to repair or increase them. It is also important that by collecting trellis for grapes with your own efforts, you can save most of the money.
Suitable models for site installation:
- One-plane model. Suitable for a small vineyard in a temperate and northern climate (the convenience of a shelter for the winter is noted). Also, this model creates ease of care. It is easy to carry out pruning, pinning, etc. The only drawback is the complexity of use for vigorous plants.
- Two-plane. It is used for a large number of bushes, even a standard form. Stimulates plantings to increase yields. Disadvantage - not suitable for regions with insufficient insolation (vines and plant shoots will shade each other).
- Decorative views. They are used for decorative needs, as well as for the convenience of a person (organization of recreation sites). Disadvantages: the ability to plant only vigorous climbing varieties, difficulty in sheltering the vine for the winter.
The main thing is to select the necessary materials and assemble the grape trellis with your own hands according to the drawings and instructions.
Trellis materials
Having decided on the type of construction, the necessary materials are selected. The most stable and durable will be metal supports, interconnected by reinforcement, cable or wire. A simpler option is a wooden pergola, but its durability is at times inferior to a metal trellis.
Plastic pipes are also suitable for the construction of arches. This material does not lose its properties under any weather conditions. But, there is one drawback: PVC pipes are bent, it is difficult to use them for vertical supports. The formation of reliability and stability of such elements will be given by metal rods (fittings) placed in the cavity of this pipe.
The availability of tools, as well as the ability to use them, are also taken into account. The metal product will have to be welded, so a manual arc welding machine is required. You can't do without a grinder. Plastic pipes are soldered with a special plumbing soldering iron. The wooden model is the simplest. To erect it, you will need a standard set of tools: a hammer, screws, drill, saw, etc.
Manufacturing of a structure
Making tapestries for grapes with your own hands without a drawing is difficult. The first thing that is important to take care of is to get a sketch of the future product with all the necessary dimensions. Themselves, their varieties have both common points of construction, and individual differences.
The structure should be easy to assemble
The next step is the location of the structure on the site. The dimensions of the product, as well as the convenience of the location of the object, are taken into account. Whatever the product, wood, plastic or metal, it is important that it is convenient to assemble it.Consider the possibility of connecting a power tool and organizing a place of work by the winegrower himself. The most important are the features of the grape content, which are also taken into account when erecting interconnected vertical supports:
- the selected place should not be shaded;
- groundwater should not flow near the plants;
- the culture should be illuminated by the sun for most of the day;
- the absence of drafts and the possibility of an easy and convenient shelter for the bushes for the winter are welcomed.
In order for the plant to receive the maximum amount of solar energy, the pillars are installed so that the vertical plane formed between them delimits the south and north. So a beautiful vines will be illuminated from sunrise to sunset.
One-plane option
The construction of a single-plane structure is the simplest. The amount of materials is minimal:
- 4 pillars;
- rope or coil of wire;
- concrete mix.
As pillars, pipes or a metal profile with a length of 2.5-3 m are suitable. They are dug in and concreted. The single-plane structure has a height of 2-2.5 m, the total length of the formed plane is 12 m.
A single-plane system of vertical and horizontal supports begins with the preparation of the foundation. The holes are dug at a distance of 3 m from each other. Pillars are installed in them to a depth of 0.5-0.6 m, securing the bottom with pieces of brick (for stability during concreting). Next, a solution is prepared, with which the pillars are concreted. The following manufacturing steps:
- Wait until the concrete dries. This takes up to 3 days.
- The upper ends are connected with jumpers. The most commonly used reinforcement or metal profile.
- Holes are drilled in the posts where the cable or wire will be attached. The first hole is made at a height of 40 cm from the ground level, the rest are made at a height of 40-45 cm from each other.
After the work is completed, all metal is covered with corrosion protection agents. If you create reliable protection against damage, the structure will serve the owner of the vineyard for more than 20 years.
Two-plane option
The most common and easy to manufacture two-plane version of the product, forming 2 parallel planes. It will be possible to make such a model without a welding machine. You only have to prepare the pillars (they will need 2 times more than in the manufacture of a single-plane product), wire and concrete mixture.
The first thing they do is mark the site for the installation of a two-plane trellis. At the chosen place, a rectangle is drawn with sides of 12 m and 0.75 m. Further, holes are dug for the installation of supports. Dig them on the large sides of the rectangle, parallel to each other with a distance of 3 m.The result is 4 pairs of holes 50-60 cm deep.
Following actions:
- Vertical supports are installed and concreted.
- They are waiting for the concrete to tighten.
- Drill through holes. The first ones are from below, at a distance of 40 cm from the ground level. Subsequent - at a distance of 45-50 cm from each other.
- A wire or rope is pulled, to which the plant is later tied.
Manufacturing is carried out according to the same rules as with supports of the same plane. If it is difficult to place planes on site 2, they make V-shaped or Y-shaped options. Such items are more difficult to assemble. After production, the vine is tied to a structure to correct growth.
Decorative view of the structure
There are many decorative supports for climbing wild grapes. The most popular are gazebos and hedges. The first is more difficult, since it takes a lot of materials and time to build a gazebo. The second does not give the desired shade in the summer heat, but only performs a decorative function or closes the delimitation of space with neighbors.
A hedge is constructed from timber and slats. They are also dug into the ground to a depth of 50 cm. Whether or not to concrete is determined by the owner.If there is a need to transfer the structure in the future, this should not be done.
When the pillars are dug in, the top of the timber is sewn together, forming a frame, the basis for further work. The bar is knocked down with nails or twisted with self-tapping screws. It remains only to sheathe the frame on one side with wooden slats diagonally in two opposite directions. The main thing is that the resulting windows have the shape of a rhombus and sides of 10-12 cm.
Wood is a less durable material than metal, so you have to take care of protecting it from moisture, as well as from the harmful activities of pests. It is important to treat the wood with a 2% solution of copper sulfate and paint it with linseed oil.
The resulting hedge will allow the maiden grapes to grow, braiding the created wooden net (he does not need a garter).
Conclusion
There are many advantages to creating a trellis. The planted culture develops better, receives the right amount of light, which contributes to active fruiting. With a secure footing, it is easier to shape the vines, water the plant, and harvest. The tapestry is easy to make with your own hands. The main thing is to select the necessary materials and build a reliable structure according to the instructions.