How to choose the right vine stakes?

• What are the criteria for choosing the right posts?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of different post materials?
• How to choose stakes according to region and vine type?

To ensure the longevity of your vines, vineyard stakes must be carefully chosen.
A fundamental element of trellising, vineyard stakes are an investment that can be made over a period of twenty years. Vine stakes support vegetation, ensuring aeration of the grapes and ideal exposure. The yield of a harvest is therefore partly conditioned by robust trellising. This article explains the importance of choosing the right vine stakes.

How to choose the right posts?

Before installing vine stakes, the first stage of trellising must be carried out: the stakes, which are installed at the same time as the vine plants.

Their function is manifold : to ensure perfect alignment for better distribution, to support the growth of the young vine and to provide protection when machinery passes by.
To do this, e-viti.com offers you different types of stakes :

• Fenox tube stakes: they're strong, flexible, lightweight and above all reusable, so you can keep your budget in check. On the practical side, offers a range of colors to identify your grape varieties. Using the Fenox planter will give you better yields and more even positioning.
• Bamboo stakes: made from natural bamboo, they are available in several lengths : 90 cm, 120 and 150 cm. Diameters vary from 8mm to 12mm, depending on the batch.
• Galvanized stakes  P8Wieland: made of galvanized steel, these stakes are ideal for planting vines and other crops. Strong with a closed profile, yet lightweight, they are packaged in bundles of 700 units.
• Gallagher fiberglass stakes: anti-UV-treated, they are highly resistant and long-lasting. They can be used for vines, but also for intensive planting of olive trees or ornamental plants.
• Tutfix SCDC stakes: made of galvanized steel, they support and protect the stock against mechanical damage. Their universal fasteners enable them to remain attached to the supporting wire.
• SCDC U-shaped stakes: in galvanized or clear steel, they are highly effective against mechanical damage. Rot-proof and hard-wearing, they can be reused for many years.
  This product is made to order: you choose the height, width and diameter of the stem.

Once the vines have been planted for several years, and the vines are sufficiently strong and straight, it's essential to install the stakes. Several criteria need to be taken into account : strength, stake height, material and installation.

In terms of strength, a distinction must be made between head posts and intermediate or row posts. A head post will be subjected to a heavy load from the trellising wires and tie wires, so it's vital that they be very strong and of a larger size than intermediate posts. In fact, it's advisable to install head stakes several months before tensioning the trellis, to ensure they are well anchored.

The height of the post depends on the grape variety chosen. In fact, depending on the grape variety, the spacing between rows and the minimum height of vegetation will be defined, so it's important to choose a post of appropriate height. In general, you should allow 1m more than the minimum vegetation height ; for example, for a grape variety with a minimum vegetation height of 1.20m, choose a stake with a minimum height of 2.20m.

Vine stakes can be made of wood or metal. Traditionally, wooden stakes are preferred for their strength, soil resistance and aesthetic appeal. They are nevertheless preferable for acid soils, as they are more resistant to the effects of acidity than metal posts.

Metal posts, on the other hand, are maintenance-free, long-lasting and flexible. These criteria are more suited to mechanization.

They need to be well embedded in the ground. Generally speaking, a third of their height is preferred, to ensure the longevity of the vines.

The installation of head stakes differs from that of intermediate stakes. It should be noted that the head stakes should be inclined 20 to 30 degrees towards the moorings.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different stake materials?

Acacia is generally favored for its resistance to the elements and its great height as a head post. Highly resistant, it stands up very well to bad weather and mechanical work, and is perfectly suited if you have acid soil, as it will be less affected by the effects of acidity than a metal post.

Another possible wood for vine stakes is pine, which is very aesthetic thanks to its round shape. They are ideal for non-mechanized plots.

For mechanized plots, metal posts are preferable. Metal posts are long-lasting, maintenance-free and flexible (greater mechanical strength). For ease of use, they are fitted with notches or lugs onto which the wire must be placed to define the trellising height. You'll save time with this type of post, as you won't have to install crampons or spikes as you would with wooden posts.

As regards the thickness of the steel, the harder the steel, the longer the post's life, we recommend that you only use posts with a minimum thickness of 1.5mm.

In terms of strength, there's another criterion to take into account: galvanization. This involves coating the post with a protective layer. Sendzimir galvanized posts are less expensive, but also have a shorter lifespan. On the other hand, hot-dip galvanized posts (Galfan type) are more resistant over time.

How to choose posts according to region and vine type?

The best time to install your vineyard stakes is in autumn. In fact, it's preferable for the soil to be damp, so that the stakes sink in more easily, and for them to be installed 6 months before the trellising period, so that they are well anchored to the ground to resist the pull of the lifting wires.

Depending on the nature of your soil and the grape variety chosen, you'll need to determine the height of the stakes to be installed. For stony soils, because of the shallower depth of the soil, you'll need to plan for a lower stake height, and therefore an adapted grape variety.

Similarly, the more heat a grape variety needs, the lower the trellising will be, as the soil reflects the heat. On the other hand, if you live in a region prone to frost, it's best to plan for high trellising, as nights are coolest at ground level.

Depending on the type of vine and its pruning (cordon de royat, guyot, chablis, etc.), the height of the trellis will also be an important factor.

The choice of vine stakes is therefore an essential element in achieving long-lasting, robust trellising.