Grape fence construction is similar to a barbed wire fence, except it typically only has two smooth wires to support the grapes, where a barbed wire fence has three or more strands. The lowest wire of a grape fence is set at 3 feet. This is about the height that a grape vine begins to send its first horizontal canes off to each side of the main trunk. The top wire should be set at approximately 5 feet, which is often the maximum height of a grape vine.
Clear the area where you plan to build the grape fence. Remove any large rocks and bushes from the area.
Tie a string onto two stakes. Place the stakes in the ground to mark the ends of the grape trellis. Pull the string taut in a straight line to use as a guide for digging fence posts.
Mark the location of fence posts along the string line, using spray paint. Set posts 8 feet apart on center.
Dig post holes 3 feet deep for wooden posts, using an auger or handheld post-hole digger. Use 8- to 8 1/2-foot, 6-inch-diameter wooden posts on each end for the braces. Posts inside the fence row may be steel, which you drive into the ground with a post driver.
Put 3 or 4 inches of gravel into the bottom of each of the post holes, using a shovel, to allow for drainage. Set the wooden posts in the ground. Hold a carpenter’s level against the side of a post to ensure the post is plumb, straight up and down. Put some dirt back into the hole and tamp it down with a hand tamper. Continue to add dirt and tamp it back into place until you fill the hole. Repeat for each of the remaining posts.
Drive the inside fence posts into the positions you marked.
Measure 12 inches down from the top of the brace posts. Mark this spot so you can connect a brace post between the pair of posts. Drill a three-eighth-inch hole into each post. Make the hole 2 inches deep on the outside, or corner post, but drill it all the way through the inside post. Drill the same size hole 2 inches deep into the end of an 8-foot post.
Insert a three-eighth-inch brace pin that’s 4 inches long into the opening on the corner post. Slide the end of the horizontal brace post onto the brace pin. Align the holes on other end of the brace post. Insert a 10-inch brace pin through the inside post and into the brace post to create the “H” portion of the brace. Repeat for the other set of end posts.
Tack a fencing staple at ground level on the outside of the corner post, but don’t drive it all the way into the post. Run Number 9 wire through the staple and then diagonally up to the outside edge of the long brace pin. Bring the wire back down and through the staple. Repeat the circuit one more time. Use a pair of fencing pliers to fasten the wires together on an in-line wire strainer. Tighten the strainer until each post pulls toward the other slightly. Repeat this process for the other end posts to complete the grape fence’s bracing.
Wrap smooth high-tensile galvanized fencing wire around the corner post 3 feet above ground level. Twist the ends of the wire back onto itself. Drive a fencing staple around the wire to secure it to the corner post as well. Secure the wire on the inside brace post with a fencing wire. Unwind the wire all the way to the other end of the fence and wrap it around the corner post at the three feet height. Cut the wire, leaving enough to wrap around the wire to tie it off. Twist the ends around the wire.
Attach a fence-stretching tool, or come along tool, to the wire near the end of the fence you didn’t secure with staples. Brace the come along against the brace post and ratchet the tool to stretch the wire. Unwrap that end of the wire and retwist it so the wire is tight around the corner post. Secure the wire with staples on both wooden end posts. Remove the come along.
Wrap wire around the top of the corner post at the 5-foot mark. Attach it in the same manner as you did the wire at the 3-foot mark. Stretch this piece of wire as well.
Secure the wire to the remaining line posts. Attach the wire with staples to wooden posts. Use wire ties to secure the wire to steel posts.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Spray paint
- Handheld post-hole diggers
- 8- to 8 1/2-foot, 6-inch-diameter wooden fence posts
- Hand tamper
- Steel fence posts
- Post driver
- 3/8-inch drill bit
- 3/8-inch brace pin, 4 inches long
- 3/8-inch brace pin, 10 inches long
- Fencing staples
- No. 9 wire
- Fencing pliers
- In-line wire strainer
- Smooth high-tensile galvanized fencing wire
- Fence stretching-tool or come-along tool
- Wire ties
- Insert a steel fence post inside a roll of wire. This acts as a spindle to make it easier to unroll the wire.
- Wear protective gloves when working with fencing supplies.
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