What is a trellis
Such a frame, in fact, will be useful not only for those who want to grow grapes on their plot. Raspberry bushes, roses, and any bindweed sometimes need support.
- The sprout is evenly stretched along the supporting devices, so that its leaves are better illuminated. And this directly affects both the amount of harvest and the taste of the berries.
- In addition, the trellis allows you to save money and properly organize the garden space.
- Wooden models are not only functional, but also decorative.
- If the harvest is not so important, such a wooden support can be used for zoning and decorating the site.
Instagram @vins_rhone
Instagram @saaai27
- Landscape
All about planting grape cuttings in open ground in spring
Designs of supports for vines
Trellis come in the following designs:
- single-plane;
- two-plane;
- decorative
Each bush can be located at its own support or in a row, when several plants are oriented to one support. You can build several rows, but you should remember that one row should contain bushes of only one variety. Different grape varieties often require different care, and this can be difficult when planted close together.
In addition to its main task - supporting the vines, the trellis can also perform a decorative function. It decorates the area and creates a romantic atmosphere
Types of structures
There are several types of trellises. Their main difference is the design of the support itself.
Single-plane
Simple and cheap, it allows you to plant cuttings in rows. It can be single - this is the easiest model to manufacture - and double, otherwise it is called two-plane and is classified into another group.
The main advantage: it provides good ventilation of the bushes, even if the distance between the rows is not too wide. The height of the trellis for grapes of this type varies from one to three meters.
A single-plane structure is suitable for technical varieties and the production of cuttings. If the goal is to grow a table variety, then it is better to find another option.
Why is it not suitable for table grape varieties?
- Single-plane structures are built in such a way that the sun illuminates one and the other side of the plant in turn. Thus, it receives half as much sunlight, and this affects the yield.
- Three meters is the maximum height of such an installation. If the bunches are located less than half a meter from the ground, they can hardly be used for food. Such berries rot and get sick more often because they are constantly exposed to dirt and moisture from the ground.
- The height of the structure also limits the growth of shoots, which have to be cut off periodically. Meanwhile, they reach 4 meters in length. This means that the wrong choice of support reduces the yield by almost half.
Unsplash
Unsplash
Horizontal
It can be metal or wooden, similar to an arch or pergola. The point is that the sprouts entwine a horizontal surface - the roof of the building.
As the practice of owners of private vineyards shows, this type of structure allows you to get maximum yield even from a small bush.
Its size depends on the number of bushes available. If you plan to plant a large number, it will hardly be possible to fit them in a pergola; you will need a special canopy.
The main difficulty lies in erecting such a trellis and properly preparing the plant for wintering. If the bush has not been formed properly, problems will arise with covering it for the winter. Therefore, the job requires experience.
Instagram @danovskynk
Instagram @italian_wines
Instagram @lora.bastet
Instagram @leguaitedinoemi
Biplanar
This model is a cross between the previous two. They come in several types: with V-, T- and L-shaped posts on top.
The optimal solution for a small area is an L-shaped stand. Lightweight and inexpensive to install, it allows you to get more yield from one bush than a single-plane one.
- Does not limit the plant's growth; the tops hang from the canopy.
- The direction of the visors can be adjusted. The base is set in the east-west direction, and the visor is set to the south.
- Thanks to this arrangement, the plant is fully illuminated. Only a small part, under the bend of the system, will be illuminated by indirect rays through the foliage. However, there is an advantage to this - the sun will not burn the berries.
Instagram @artmetal.pro
Pixabay
Decorative
In the photo, the decorative trellis for grapes looks much more impressive than others. Not surprising. Wooden structures made of slats or forged from metal are made according to the principle of constructing a pergola or arch for the garden.
When planning the installation of such a structure, be prepared for the fact that the bush is unlikely to bring a large harvest. Still, in this case, the main thing is the aesthetic component, and not the yield. Before you start manufacturing, you need to understand what materials the structure will consist of.
Instagram @stupino_workshop
Instagram @stupino_workshop
- Landscape
In detail and step by step: how to plant grape seedlings in spring
Functional purpose
The importance of trellises in the formation of bushes should not be underestimated. This crop has been cultivated for many centuries, and over the years many ways to increase productivity have been developed and care algorithms have been compiled. Read about the Veles grape variety in this article.
In the artificial environment of our garden plot, we ourselves must provide the grape plant with a support suitable for good lighting of growth and fruiting - a trellis for grapes.
Trellis are supports that help the vineyards synthesize sunlight to a greater extent, the grapes heat up more evenly and, accordingly, the harvest time comes faster. In addition, the design solves the following problems:
- ventilation, improving air circulation;
- accumulation of more nutrients, both in leaves and fruits;
- the risk of vine breakage during squally winds is reduced;
- safe shelter for the winter.
In addition to the rational construction of trellises, it is necessary to correctly form grape bushes. Only then is it possible to increase grape yields.
Materials
The frame can be wooden, metal, plastic or even cement. But the first two types are more popular. However, the choice depends entirely on the preferences of the owner of the site.
- Wood is the most environmentally friendly, but, alas, short-lived material. If you want to make a base from timber or untreated wood, give preference to more durable oak, walnut, larch and other species.
- Before installation, the wooden stand must be processed: cleared of bark, fired or filled with resin.
- Metal poles are a more versatile and wear-resistant option. You can purchase ready-made ones from galvanized steel or find analogues, for example, among water pipes or building profiles.
conclusions
It is impossible to say unequivocally which method of hanging grapes is the best. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
- A single-plane trellis is more reliable ; it can be used for covering varieties, but its productivity is low due to the small number of bushes.
- More bunches and grape varieties are placed on a two-plane trellis, but at the same time it cannot be used in regions with low temperatures.
- It is quite easy to assemble a trellis with your own hands, since it requires a minimal amount of material and little labor.
- When constructing trellises and supports, do not forget about the reliability factor and thoroughly secure each post and turn of wire.
Location and dimensions of the trellis for grapes
The maximum height of the support column is about 3 m. However, be prepared for the fact that you will have to collect the crop from above on a ladder. So, poles are often selected in such a way that they are only slightly higher than a person’s height: approximately 180-200 cm. Then there will definitely be no problems with picking berries.
As for the location, the traditional option is from north to south. This way the bush will be illuminated best.
The width of planting and installation of support pillars depends on their height and the area where the dacha is located. The further north the site, the wider the rows should be. There is no point in saving money here: dense rows will obscure the sunlight. And this, in turn, has a detrimental effect on the yield and the condition of the plant as a whole.
Instagram @zavodgefest
Instagram @sbt_slavyansk
Alternative options
If the grape variety has fairly strong wood, is short in stature and is frost-resistant, then farmers, as an alternative, make simple supports on which the grapes are located . This option is very rarely used and has a number of limitations.
For example, if the grape variety is a covering one, then for the winter it is removed from the poles and special floorings are made on the ground; in the spring, they are untangled and hung again. The whole process is time consuming and very labor intensive.
Build process
Let's look at two types that can be easily built at home.
Assembling a single-plane trellis
It is easiest to make such a system. The hardest part is installing the posts into the ground. It is more reliable to make it using formwork - pipes and a mixture of sand, crushed stone or broken bricks filled with cement.
Installing pillars
- The posts are inserted into holes up to 50 cm deep.
- Install the pipe - formwork.
- The empty space is filled with a mixture of sand and crushed stone and spilled with water to compact it.
- Then the stand is filled with cement mortar.
After installing the pillars, you can begin to stretch the horizontal supports. To do this, use copper or aluminum wire with a diameter of 3-4 mm.
We stretch the supports
- The bottom row is stretched at a height of 50 cm - 80 cm above the ground. A cordon is attached to it.
- The distance between the rows of wire is at least 30 cm.
- The top row can be replaced with fittings or pipes - they will serve as a kind of spacers and strengthen the entire system.
- Also a mandatory element of the system is a spacer on the outer poles in each row so that they do not sag or deform under the weight of the plant.
Instagram @zavodgefest
Instagram @oootvornica
Two-plane support structures are produced according to the same principle. The main difference is the presence of pillars and a visor on top.
The video below provides tips on how to properly make an L-shaped trellis for grapes.
Making a decorative trellis
If your goal is to decorate the area or highlight a recreation area, you can plant a beautiful decorative variety, for example, girlish grapes. Then he will need an appropriate grille.
It can be made according to the principle of an arch or pergola, or even simpler - a wall. How to make such a trellis for grapes?
Necessary materials:
- 4 beams 1.5 - 2 meters long (at your discretion).
- Thin slats to create a lattice
- Screws and screwdriver
- Sandpaper
- Building level
- Varnish for coating the finished product.
You can begin installation either by installing the support rails in the ground or by assembling the product. In this case, you will install the entire system at once. Choose the method that seems more convenient to you.
Assembling a decorative trellis
- A square is made from 4 support rails - this is the basis of the system. They are fixed with screws.
- The longitudinal slats are installed at a distance of approximately 10-15 cm from each other. Next, the product is turned over, and perpendicular slats are attached to them at the same distance.
- The finished wall is painted with 1-2 layers of varnish.
- If you plan to install it next to the wall of the house, do not press it tightly. The plant needs a gap to weave the trellis on both sides.
Instagram @svekla_2207
Instagram @svekla_2207
Instagram @svekla_2207
Instagram @svekla_2207
Instagram @svekla_2207
Setting up at the dacha - choosing a location
A grape trellis is not a temporary installation. With the right approach, it will serve you for many years. Therefore, it is necessary to take care in advance about choosing a place for its location.
When choosing a place for grapes, consider the following important points:
- The area should be well lit by the sun during the day.
- The rows of the vineyard should be directed from the northern part of the garden to the southern.
- The distance between rows should be at least 2 meters.
More details about choosing a site on the site can be found in a separate article.
Reference! To make efficient use of space, especially in a small area, you can plant other crops, such as vegetables or herbs, between the rows.
Briefly about the main thing
Creating a fence for grapes is a simple matter. You don't need any professional skills to do this. The design of the trellises is extremely simple. It consists of supports and metal wire.
Using these elements you can assemble different designs. Single-plane trellises are good for growing varieties that need to be covered for the winter. Their installation will make it possible to rationally manage the land allocated for vineyards. The distance between adjacent trellises is two meters; in such an area it is easy to create vegetable beds.
Double-plane supports help increase productivity and plant more seedlings. Their creation takes a lot of material, so setting up a vineyard will cost more.
Decorative trellises become a real decoration of the garden. With their help, vertical landscaping is formed, which can then be admired for a long time.
Source
Mistakes when covering grapes for the winter
Now let's go over the most common mistakes in winter sheltering grapes, which are made due to inexperience or due to a misunderstanding of certain physical processes.
1. Unjustified increase in shelter volume
This has already been mentioned above. The earth is the only “heater” of the internal space; the larger the volume of air that needs to be heated, the more difficult it is to do so. It is necessary to strive to reduce the internal volume of the shelter.
This option is good for protection against return frosts in the spring, but not for wintering. The smaller the frame, the better.
2. Using straw and leaves inside the shelter
I found these pictures on “pseudo-vintner” sites, there are a lot of them now. An excellent visual aid on the topic of how not to cover grapes for the winter.
Leaves rot in dampness, and your grapes will rot along with them. Straw is the best bait for mice, which eat not only the eyes, but also the bark from the vines and trunks. Never use leaves or straw inside the shelter!
3. Application of spruce branches inside the grape shelter
Lapinik will not rot and there will be no mice in it, but there is no point in it in this case. The spruce branches are not as dense as reed mats, so they do not work as a heat insulator, nor as snow retention in this case, they just lie inside and try to keep warm along with the grapes) There is no harm, no benefit either.
Video description
You can see how to create a beautiful decorative trellis in this video:
Arched trellis
Such support will provide you with a good harvest, as it allows the bunches to receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and excellent conditions for ventilation.
The recommended height for such a support is 2.5-3 m Source moyvinograd.ru
Application in landscape design
There are several ways to use girlish grapes in landscape design, photos of which you will find on our website. We will describe the most common of them.
Hedge
A hedge of maiden grapes can be formed within a year, thanks to the high growth vigor and the ability of the vine to take any shape. The vine will be supported by a fence or wall. If you wish, you can create a simple but powerful support with your own hands. To do this, stretch a net between the posts to which you will tie the growing shoots. Please note that every year the vines add 2 - 4 m in length, so take care of the reliability of the structure you are installing.
Wild grapes on the fence will protect your site from noise, dust and wind. It will become a real decoration of your possessions.
Vertical gardening
Widely used to camouflage and hide unremarkable walls of buildings or outbuildings. The grapes are planted near the wall. As the vines grow, they cling to it with their tendrils and creep upward. If they actively develop, they can harm the plaster, so it is better to choose an untreated surface. If desired, you can install a support or mesh along which the vine will crawl.
This technique is used to decorate gazebos, pergolas, garden furniture and other landscape objects.
Decorating balconies
Wild grapes are planted in containers on terraces, loggias and balconies. It can create a living wall or green partition. Having formed a favorable microclimate, the grapes will provide the interior with coolness, shade and noise protection.
If you want to give your site a special charm without much effort and expense, then virgin grapes will be a great find for you. Thanks to its ease of planting and ease of care, even a novice gardener can achieve interesting landscape techniques.