Growing grapes can feel overwhelming with so many methods to choose from, but the right trellis setup can really impact your harvest. In this post, I’ll share some trellis ideas, including the one I’m using for my own grape vines, to help you get the best yield possible.
I’ve had some success with growing grapes in the past, but this time, I’m putting the lessons I’ve learned into practice to make sure I get it right from the start. With the right approach, my grapes will have the best chance to thrive, and I’ll be able to enjoy more homegrown table grapes.
Why You Need a Trellis
Grapes are large vining plants that need some support to attach to. If they don’t have a solid support structure they will just sprawl along the ground and the following things may occur:
- Less vigorous growth.
- Grapes may rot on ground.
- More susceptible to disease.
- Rats will eat the grapes.
By giving the grapes a solid structure to grow on we can improve airflow to reduce disease, increase light through the canopy improving growth, and keep the fruit well off the ground to avoid the risk of rotting or rats.
How High Should a Grape Trellis Be?
The height of a grape trellis depends on the variety of grapes you’re growing, as different types can reach different sizes. However, grapes can generally grow quite large, up to 4 m (13 ft) tall and wide.
If you’re growing grapes on an arbour for shade, make sure the trellis is taller than your head, especially since the grapes will drape down from above. For a better harvest, a taller, longer trellis provides more room for growth, which means more fruit. That said, you’ll want the trellis within arm’s reach so you don’t need to use a ladder for harvesting.
Trellis Location
Grapes love full sun and can take all they can get, so make sure your trellis is positioned to give them plenty of light. The more sunlight they get, the more fruit you’ll get in return.
Also, make sure the soil drains well. Grapes need a good watering, but they don’t like their roots to stay soggy.
Grape Trellis Ideas
A classic use of grapes is growing on an arbour to provide shade over a patio. In summer the grapes will provide shade and in winter they will lose their foliage allowing light back in. If you an existing arbour in place, this is a perfect opportunity to grow some grapes there.
You can also grow over an arch or something smaller in the garden, keeping in mind they have the potential to grow quite large.
If you are shorter on space in your yard, growing along a fence or wall can be an efficient option. You can attach a wire or other trellis system directly to your fence or build one just off it.
Easy DIY Grape Trellis
I wanted to make a backyard grape trellis that would give me the most grapes possible but was also easy for me to put together. I’m not that good at DIY and though I am improving, I wanted it to be simple enough to build without any cementing or woodwork needed. I chose to build it slightly off the fence because I wanted a little better airflow.
Materials Needed
I used tools and materials that were all laying around from other projects including:
- Star pickets (T posts)
- Wire
- Hammer
- Wire cutters
I started by putting in 3 star pickets which would form the middle and ends of my trellis. To stop the poles from being pulled over when under tension from the wire, I used star pickets in the corners.
The trellis is around 3.5 m (11.5 ft) wide and 1.5 m (5 ft) tall. I would make it around 2 m (6.5 ft) tall, but these were the tallest poles I had. These dimensions will give my grapes room to grow out while allowing me to easily pick any fruit.
I left around 15 cm (6 in) between each horizonal run. This will allow good airflow but still provide plenty of wire for lateral growth to grow on. You can change the spacing between the wires to allow more or less light and airflow depending on your conditions.
I just used wire I had laying around to make the horizontal runs the lateral growth will grow on. It’s not super tight but it will do the job.
The braces are already wedged into place and are not moving but I decided to tie them to the post with wire for extra stability.
This is a very simple but effective trellis system anybody can put together very quickly and cheaply. It is modular and can be made as tall or as long as you want.
How to Train Grape Vines on a Trellis
I planted the grape as close to the centre pole so it can immediately grow up to the top of the trellis without wasting distance.
I chose the longest vine to be the leader and cut off the other branches.
Leave some foliage on the branches when you trim them, don’t cut right at the stem. This will allow those leaves to produce energy your plant needs to grow.
The plan is to train a single leader up the pole until it reaches the top wire. Then I will cut the top off which will promote side laterals to grow along the wires. These laterals will grow on the wires and be the foundation of where my grapes can grow and hang off.
Conclusion
Building a solid trellis is key to growing grapes successfully, and it doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.
Using star pickets and wire is an affordable, practical, and reliable approach. With a bit of training—planting close to the centre pole and pruning for lateral growth—you’ll soon be harvesting fresh grapes right from the vine.
If you’ve got a trellis system that works for you, share it with us!
