Build Fences
for Grape Vines in Texas
Texans have long enjoyed growing grapes and producing their own jelly, grape juice and wine. With planning and effort Texas homeowners can add fences specifically for grapevines to their property. With some additional labor they can also build grape arbors to add decoration, shade and produce to their gardens. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Basic Fence
1. Identify the desired location for the fence. Using the string and stakes, lay out the fence position and length. Starting at one end of the string, dig 3-foot-deep holes, placing the holes 6 feet apart from each other. Remove the string and stakes.
2. Mix the cement with water in a bucket or other large container. Pour cement into each hole until it fills 1 foot of the hole. Place a post into each hole and surround it with more cement. The posts should be buried 2 feet deep.
3. Grapevines require sandy loam soil to grow well. If the soil along the fence line is mostly clay, make raised beds for the grapevines. Outline a square around the post with bricks, leaving about 6 inches between the post and bricks. Mix the mortar in a second bucket or container. With the trowel, mortar the outlining bricks together, then add more layers of bricks until the square is about 6 inches tall. Fill the bed with potting soil.
4. Place additional bricks in a row between each fence post, long sides touching. Use the trowel and mortar to "glue" them together.
5. Span a fence post across the tops of 2 upright posts. Nail each end of the horizontal post slightly off-center on the upright posts' tops. Continue spanning the upright posts until the fence is complete.
6. Plant one grape vine next to every upright fence post. Tie the vines along the posts until they are trained and growing well up and along the fence.
Grape Arbor
7. Follow the same steps for making a basic fence, but use 10-foot long posts for the uprights and lay out 2 fences parallel to each other, 6 to 8 feet apart. Use the ladder and assistant to help place the spanning posts safely.
8. Lift, place and nail a 2-by-4 at one end of the arbor, stretching between the 2 fences and making a "roof" for the arbor. Continue nailing 2-by-4s 2 feet apart along the double fence until the entire arbor is "roofed."
9. Plant grapevines as for the basic fence, tying them into place on the upright posts and 2-by-4s.
Tags: upright posts, feet apart, fence post, about inches, along fence, Build Fences, Build Fences Grape