In order for the grape bushes to grow quickly and develop well, it is very important to properly tie the plants – this contributes to the proper formation of the vine and avoids sagging. The use of trellises provides full air circulation between individual branches, and this has the most positive effect on the condition of the plant. To tie up the vine, it is not at all necessary to buy special supports; you can always make them with your own hands from improvised means.
Description and purpose
To obtain a rich harvest of grapes, young bushes must be tied to supports. The advantages of growing vines vertically on trellises are obvious.
- The correct formation of the vine from the very first years of life and the further maintenance of the necessary shape contributes to the full growth and development of the fruit bush.
- Due to the uniform vertical placement on the trellis, the vine shoots do not shade each other, and each branch, leaf and fruit receives a sufficient amount of sunlight. Full lighting contributes to the acceleration of metabolic processes and, as a result, a large harvest of large juicy berries with exceptional taste characteristics.
- Inflorescences distributed over trellises are open to insects, so pollination is easier and faster.
- Timely garter of the vine provides the bushes with full ventilation – this is a good prevention of fungal infections.
- Vine bushes grown on trellises have good immunity. They are resistant to frost, precipitation and other adverse external influences.
Species overview
There are many varieties of wallpaper. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular design options.
Single plane
Grape bushes are planted in straight parallel rows, so the trellises are placed on one side of the plants. A single-plane trellis is a simple design in which the posts are installed in one row, and a trellis wire is pulled between them, always in a single plane.
When installing such trellises, it is important that the supports are located at a small distance from each other, the distance from the bush to the support should be 30-35 cm. This arrangement facilitates the care of grapes and subsequent harvesting.
Simple single-plane tapestries are quite often used by our compatriots in summer cottages.
Biplanar
In a two-plane design, the vine, along with young shoots, is located on two planes of stretched diameters. This type of support greatly simplifies the care of developing bushes, and due to the fact that the growth of young shoots increases, it contributes to a significant increase in yield. Such designs have become widespread in the cultivation of vigorous grape varieties.
However, it is important to keep in mind that a two-plane trellis is used exclusively for tying vines growing in a north-south direction. If the orientation of the plants is different, one row of grapes will be heavily obscured by the other. Similar tapestries are placed at a distance of 50-80 cm.
Others
U-shaped structures have become very popular. Similar supports are placed on both sides of the bushes and a wire is pulled from each side. Two supports are placed at an equal distance from the plants and at the same distance between them – the distance should correspond to 50-60 cm.
If the distance is less, then it will make it difficult to treat the bushes with fertilizers and chemicals.
Slightly less common are V- and Y-shaped designs. Such tapestries involve the installation of a pair of rows of supports with a slight slope and with the presence of wire. At the same time, the angle does not have any effect on the parameters of illumination of leaves and branches by sunlight.
It is extremely important that the posts are connected to each other with jumpers – this will prevent them from falling under the weight of the fruit. Due to the optimal inclination of the structure, the vines hang freely, this has the most positive effect on the growth and development of the plant. The dimensions of such a support are selected, guided by the individual preferences of the grower.
L-shaped structures, better known as pergolas, deserve attention. With this design, the planes with wire are located horizontally, young green shoots grow along them. The pergola has a height of 2-2,5 m, while the shoots of plants are placed parallel to each other.
When growing grapes on a pergola, gardeners note the rapid growth of the vine and an increase in crop yields.s – this is due to the fact that the leaves are illuminated by the rays of the sun throughout the day. The formation of culture on an L-shaped support provides full air circulation and thereby minimizes the risk of infection with fungi and viruses.
The only drawback of the design is its height, since in this case it is difficult to care for the plant.
A pergola is often installed in small areas, since it simultaneously solves two problems – it acts as a support structure for grapes and at the same time decorates the house adjoining area. In a short period of time, the vine on the trellis reaches the top of the trellis and creates a beautiful landscape. By the way, a pergola can be used for wild grapes for arranging a recreation area – just arrange a place under the vine with benches, put a small table or hang a hammock.
Some growers prefer T-shaped trellises.
Materials
Do-it-yourself trellises for grapes are a simple design of separate racks with cables or wire stretched across. As support racks you can use:
- reinforced concrete pillars;
- metal or plastic pipes;
- timber bars;
- asbestos pipes;
- channel.
Wooden racks look very beautiful and are significantly superior to all other devices in terms of aesthetic characteristics. However, they are less practical, since after 5-6 years the parts of the trellis buried in the ground begin to rot.
To extend the life of such a design, you should give preference to products made of oak, chestnut or acacia.
That section of the trellis column, which will be in the ground, must first be kept in a 5% solution of copper sulfate for 3-5 days, and then lubricated with kerosene or liquid resin. The upper areas are also exposed to the adverse effects of precipitation, pests and rodents – they must be treated annually with fungicidal impregnations.
Forged trellises for grapes are considered a more practical solution. Usually they are made of a metal channel or pipes with a diameter of at least 6 cm. Please note that the maximum load will fall on the extreme supports – they must be the strongest, for them it is better to take pipes of large diameter. Intermediate posts may be slightly narrower.
For arched trellises, the best solution would be reinforcement or a metal bar welded to the support pillars. This material is highly flexible, so that the trellis can be given a rounded shape while maintaining optimal structural strength and rigidity of the supports.
For transverse rows of trellis, you can take a metal cable or aluminum wire 3-4 mm thick.
dimensions
It is possible to calculate the optimal height of the trellis pillars for cultivating grapes, taking into account the climatic features of the region. In accordance with the standards, in central Russia, the height of the bushes reaches 2,5 m, so the buried part should be 50-70 cm, and the ground part should be 200-250 cm. In the southern regions, grapes grow more actively, so there the height of the trellis above ground level should reach up to 350 cm.
In one row, the supports are placed in increments of 2-2,5 m. It is important to take care of the preparation of additional stiffeners in advance; for this, you can take metal corners or small pipes. The distance between the crossbars usually corresponds to 45-50 cm.
How to do it yourself?
In order to independently make trellises for grapes, you must first decide on the type of construction and study the drawings.
Let’s take a closer look at the features of mounting trellises from different materials – each option will harmoniously fit into the garden design and create a strong, durable support for growing grapes.
Tapestry from a profile pipe
Even a beginner who does not have any work experience can make such a two-lane trellis. You will need:
- profile pipes – 8 pcs.;
- wire – 30-40 m;
- crossbars – 8 pcs.;
- pegs;
- cement and gravel.
The step-by-step instruction provides for several sequential actions.
- First you need to dig holes at a distance of 70 cm. They are poured with a thick cement solution and sprinkled with gravel.
- Pipes are installed slightly at an angle so that the bushes can withstand the weight load. The crossbars are fixed on top.
- For mounting the crossbars, it is desirable to take copper wire. To fix it on the trellis, it is necessary to make holes in the pipes with a drill. The first row of trellis wire is pulled at a height of half a meter from the ground, each subsequent row is located 40-45 cm higher than the previous one.
Tapestries are ready. Such a support will serve faithfully for many years.
Plastic pipe trellis
Polypropylene pipes retain their integrity for several decades. This is a durable material. However, in order to give the pipes the desired rigidity, it is recommended to additionally insert fittings inside. It is not difficult to make a trellis from a plastic pipe; this process includes several main steps:
- planting holes are dug at a distance of 55-60 cm, reinforcement is buried 65 cm into each hole;
- plastic blanks are bent in the shape of an arch, taking into account a suitable bend radius;
- bent pipes are strung on metal fittings;
- to give the structure the necessary strength, use transverse jumpers;
- the optimal height of a plastic trellis for grapes is 2,5-3 m, the distance between the crossbars should be 45-60 cm.
Before installing metal pipes, it is imperative to carry out anti-corrosion treatment of supporting structures.
wood trellis
In order to make a structure out of wood, it is necessary to prepare several wooden poles, a wire with a cross section of 4 cm, crossbars and cement.
Step by step process.
- In the selected area for planting grape bushes, pits are dug 80 cm deep with a distance of 40-50 cm.
- A layer of river sand is poured into each hole, wooden posts are fixed in the recess. The base is cemented.
- Crossbars are fixed in the upper and lower parts of the supports, they will support the trellis.
- Between them, holes are drilled in the pillars at a distance of 40-45 cm and a metal wire is threaded. It is best to choose copper products, in which case the trellis will be not only practical, but also beautiful.
Rebar trellis for grapes
To make a strong trellis for a vineyard from metal wire, you must perform the following steps:
- the lower part of the pillars is smeared with a layer of bitumen and hammered into pre-prepared landing pits to a depth of 60-70 cm, while the distance between individual pillars should not exceed 1,7-2 m.
- at a distance of 45-55 cm from the surface of the earth, the wire of the lower row is pulled, each subsequent one should be 40-50 cm higher than the previous one.
This trellis is characterized by reliability and durability.
Where to install?
Decorative supports for vines fall into the category of permanent structures. They cannot be moved from place to place if desired, therefore, the selection of a site for the installation of trellises should be taken carefully. The site must meet the following requirements:
- be well lit by sunlight;
- the distance between individual rows of grape bushes should be in the range of 1,5-2 m.
Novice users can build maiden grape trellises near the fence to save space.
The supports should be placed in a north-south direction. In this case, in the morning the vine will be illuminated by the rays of the sun from the east, in the afternoon the maximum illumination will fall on the inner part of the green mass, and in the evening the sun will shine on the western part of the bush.
Growing grapes on trellises
The technique of tying grapes to a trellis depends on the crop planting scheme and the season in which you plan to carry out this work. So, the first garter of grapes to the trellis is carried out in early spring, when the young shoots of the plant are still too weak and require support. This must be done before the buds open. If you tie up the branches too late, it can harm the plant.
The garter is carried out as follows:
- elongated sleeves of the vine are fixed to the crossbars at an angle of 50-60 degrees;
- substitution shoots are tied to the bottom wire;
- the vine is carefully wrapped around the crossbar and fixed with a soft twine or piece of cloth;
- branches that cannot be fixed at the specified angle are tied up slightly tilted.
Important: Old bushes should be tied at a right angle. You need to act carefully, because the branches of such plants are very fragile.
For the full formation of large clusters, the plant requires an abundance of useful trace elements and organic top dressing. Therefore, after the tying procedure is completed, a small amount of nutritious top dressing must be applied under each bush, and then moistened abundantly.
The summer procedure was called the “green garter”. It allows you to protect the vines from rain and strong gusts of wind. At this time, the vine is tied up at a right angle – in this way, only those bushes that have a high trunk or a long sleeve are ordered. When the vine grows, it will need to be tied up again to fix the regrown shoots. Keep in mind that during the summer season, shoot garter manipulations can be carried out no more than three times.
Fixing the vine with trellises allows for sufficient air circulation to the green shoots and the influx of sunlight. Such development conditions contribute to a large harvest. The grape fruits grown on trellises are usually distinguished by their large size, juiciness and sweet taste.
On the creation of a single-sheet trellis for grapes, see the video.
