Grape vine supported between fence posts

[Bankzee]

Planted a Seedless Grape Vine against the back fence and wanted to provide horizontal support for it. Decided to use existing Galvanised Steel Posts to run wire over a span of 9 metres.

Materials

Marine Grade Stainless Steel Wire 

Wire Rope Grips 

Wire Rope Thimble 

Turnbuckle 

Jacks Grip and Grow Trellis 

Jack Mesh Panel Fix Clips 

Zip Ties 

Round Rings 

Tools

Adjustable Wrench 

Steps

Step 1

Fed the Round Rings onto the Panel Fix Clips.

Removed the nuts on the bolts that support the fence to the posts and attached the Jacks Mesh Panel Fix Clips at either end then secured the nuts back on to the bolts. Fed the Wire Rope Thimble through the ring at one end. 

Hooked the Turnbuckle through the ring at the other end and connected a rope thimble to the turnbuckle.

Attached Mesh Panel Clips to the middle Posts as added support for the wire. 

Fed the wire rope through the clips and around both thimbles.

Secured both ends with Wire Rope Grips using an adjustable wrench to tighten with a small amount of slack in the Wire Rope.

Secured the surplus Wire Rope with Zip Ties along itself to make it neat and tidy.

Rotate the Turnbuckle to tighten the slack.

All that is left is to train the Vine along the wire, gently tighten the turnbuckle if the vine weight causes wire to drop and prune as necessary then just wait a few seasons for the grapes to grow.

I painted the fence first using Walpamur Charcoal Fence Paint as I find the green vine leaves or any green leaved plant really pop in front of the Charcoal coloured fence. Also in Winter the Grape Vine loses its leaves and the painted fence looks nicer than boring aged hardwood palings.

[JackOATMN]

This is a great idea,

I live in the Moreton Bay area of Queensland, and I am taking a shot at growing some grapes, I have a spot picked out with full sun, but I have a metal colour bond fence, wil the heat from that affect the grapes?

[JacobZ]

Hi @JackOATMN,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your questions.

You can certainly have some heat reflection from a metal fence so this should be taken into consideration when growing your grapes.

If possible, position them 30-50cm away from the fence so there is room for reflected heat to dissipate more easily.

Consider adding a shade structure or heat shield to help keep your grapes cool in the hot summer months. You could make something basic out of shade cloth and timber stakes.

Consistent watering will also be key. Consider adding an irrigation system so watering is simple to keep up with. Check out How To Plan An Irrigation System and How To Install An Irrigation System for some guidance.

Allow me to tag experienced gardeners @Noelle and @mich1972 to see if they have any tips they can add.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob