How to trellis vineyards ?

• What is vineyard trellising ?
• How to trellis the vineyards ?
• What equipment is needed for trellising vineyards ?
• When should the vine be trellised ?
• Why should the vine be trellised ?
• Our advice for trellising your vineyards

The vine is a plant able to climb to a trellis or a wire (steel, stainless steel or synthetic) thanks to its branches. A vineyard can grow an area of about ten m² in a few years. Before planting, it is necessary to project and prepare its trellis system. You have just made a plantation and you want to install the trellising? Follow the E-viti advice on how to make a trellising and the wine accessories you will need.

What is the trellising of the vine ?

Trellising is a technique of conducting the vine by attaching the stems of the plant to a structure. This allows to increase both the yields and the quality of the grapes by ensuring aeration and ideal exposure.

How to grow vines ?

Here are the steps to follow to install the trellising of the vine :

First of all, we have to plant the head pole. They come in all kinds and in various materials, usually resistant wood such as pine, acacia, chestnut, minimum 8/10 cross-section or metal, profiled stake, minimum 40x40 cross-section angle. Install the seedheads with a tilt of 20º – 30º outward.

 

Then come the intermediate stakes, usually in the same material as the head stakes. They are vertically aligned, every 5 strains maximum (5 to 6 m), at a depth of one third in the ground and two thirds above ground :

 

⇒ Our range of stakes

Once the stakes of the trellising of the vine are planted, the head post must be fixed. The goal is for the headpost to be firmly attached to the ground, thanks to an anchor point. It must be installed so that it can withstand the tension of the vine row.

The anchors are installed in the direction of the anchor wire linking the anchorage to the head stakes.

Depending on the type of ground, the appropriate anchor should be used:

• loose floor: disc anchor

• dense ground more or less stony: Fenox Anchors of 500 or 600 mm.

⇒ Our range of anchors

 

 

It is time to install the wire for the trellising of the vine, let’s start with the anchor wire linking the anchor to the headposts. The wire is attached on one side at the top of the head post and on the other to the anchor bracket hook.

 

The range of product :

• The crimping sleeve is an alternative to splicing because it allows two wires to be connected very securely and without risk of slippage
• The tensioners allows the wire to be tensioned without cutting it and thus have a rigid link between the two elements
• The extension Fenox : raises the anchor wire from the ground to resist mechanical and corrosive aggressions
• The bottom wire : called slatted wire or support wire, it will hold the support branch, very important because on it will push the branches after each cut
• The moveable or catch wire are parallel pair of wires where the vine’s shoots are held

The range of product :

• Wire tie (for angle L) : to hold the wire on the intermediate stake
• U shaped nails : same function as wire fastener, but for wooden stakes
• The crimping sleeve is an alternative to splicing because it allows two wires to be connected very securely and without risk of slippage. Can be installed in the middle of the row or at the level of the headposts
• The tensioners : makes it possible to tighten the wire without cutting it, tensions is obtained by rotation and allow very fine tuning.
• The uplifting moveable catch wires maintain the vegetation throughout its growth and are tightened for harvest.
  
  

The range of product :

At the headposts :

• Slides for height adjustment of the lifting wires
• Chains allowing tension adjustment of the moveable wires

At the intermediate posts :

• Spreaders allowing the lifting wires to be attached to the intermediate posts
• The spreaders tips allowing the lifting wires to be attached to the intermediate wooden stakes
• Spreaders to hold the moveable wires and clip onto the stakes when you want to tighten the vine before harvest

 

Finally, staples need to be put in place. There are several types of staples for lifting, mainly depending on the material. Plastic or steel staples are strong and can be reused from one season to the next while others, from pressed wood fibers, are 100%, biodegradable and will break at the end of the season. Manufactured out of chestnut with no synthetic glue the wood clips will naturally degrade in the ground.

The organic and aluminium fasteners, allow to tighten the lifting wires between two stakes.

Irrigation equipment for vines

Poor water supply to the vine can be compensated by spot irrigation. Drip pipes with their attachment to the support wire can contribute to the water supply necessary for the good maturity of the grapes.

Drip Hose Clip: The hose clips attached to the support wire allow you to hang the drip hose horizontally and guide the drip to the center of the vineyard, they are made out of galvanized steel to last as long as the vineyard will be in place.

What is the necessary material for the trellising of the vine ?

If we summarize the equipment and tools for vine training mentioned above, you will need:

• Ground anchors,
• vine stakes, posts,
• Trellising wire,
• Staples,
• Elements of protection against frost, birds and insects,
• Traceability elements such as identification disks,

It is essential to invest in good viticultural equipment in order to successfully install the trellising. This is a way to optimize the productive capacity of your vineyard, reduce labor and make your task easier.

Here are some recommended products for the trellising of the vine:

• Fenox wood staples : biodegradable staples, a Fenox brand signature, made from pressed wood fibres, 100% natural with no synthetic glue, the perfect match to respect your land.
• Reyclip staples : Reyclip brand disposable staples made from food. Very light and easy to use to simplify the trellising of the vine.
• Ligapal vines ties : 100% biodegradable, easy to handle steel paper twine. Several models for different resistors.
• Ligapal binder : a tool for the trellising of the vine. It allows to attach the branches with efficiency and speed. It is also equipped with hardened steel knives and a rubberized sheath, which adds more comfort.
• Textile link : extendable accessory made from recycled materials, for the installation of the trellising of the vine. Its elasticity allows to accompany the growth of the vine in harmony.
• Ancorfix rubber tie : synthetic rubber link to install vine stakes and wedge the feet.
  
  

Our advice for the trellising of your vines

You have all the necessary elements for the procedure. But here are some more tips on how to grow vines :

• The trellising technique must be adapted to the variety planted. All varieties have different requirements in terms of spacing, height and exposed leaf area. Also consider the climate factor specific to your region, or even sub-region.
• The quality of a harvest is directly linked to the balance between foliage and yields (measured in kilograms of grapes per stock).
• Get all the accessories you need for the trellising of the vineyard and choose quality tools to treat your work.
  
  

When should the vine be grown ?

The trellising of the vineyard must take place after the spring works, that is, between May and June. With this in mind, installing the pegs six months upstream ensures that they are optimally anchored to the ground. They will be able to resist the pulling of the trellising wires of the vine.

Why do you grow vines ?

Trellising is a method that brings many advantages to the planting of vines. We thus obtain:

• Better management of sun exposure, as the vine unfolds better and the grapes are less covered by foliage.
• Optimal aeration, which reduces the risk of disease or rot, by lowering the moisture content.
• A vine that grows more rectilinear, making it easier to maintain and harvest.

After reading this guide on how to grow vines, you have all the tools you need to apply it to your vines.