Content
Support for girlish grapes is not a luxury item, but a necessity. The plant has a high growth rate and can easily break under its own weight. Open fractures lead to illness and general deterioration of the condition. To prevent this, owners resort to installing supports. You can make them with your own hands from available materials.
Do you need support for maiden grapes?
In addition to the fact that supports help the vine to remain in a given position, they also improve the decorative appearance of the area. The design is equally useful for annual and perennial crops. Maiden grape is a deciduous vine, the bulk of which falls on the blades.
The beauty of the culture lies in the close proximity of the shoots, which, due to their volume, prevent the penetration of winds. Without suitable support, the vine will lie on the ground and will do little good. It is usually placed on fences, but not all fences are suitable for this. For example, grapes simply cannot grab onto the plastic surface of the suction cup.
Due to the impressive mass and dimensions, special requirements are imposed on the supports. They must be rough (for coupling), sufficiently reliable and durable. A simple trellis will not work to hold the plant.
The supports, firmly fixed to the ground, withstand the high windage caused by the growth of shoots.
Types of supports for girl's grapes
There are several types of racks. All of them provide the girl’s grapes with proper protection from falling, although they differ in design. The differences are due to the fact that different forms are applicable to different landscapes.
Arches
One of the most popular types of supports for tying climbing plants. It resembles a doorway, which, unlike the standard model, has a rounding at the top.
The use of arches became widespread precisely thanks to this rounding, since it bears the imprint of ancient cultures
The dimensions, color and material from which the support is made are determined by the owner. The parameters are selected based on the location and surrounding space. If the counter is erected near the door, the central passage is made sufficient for free movement.
Alcove
You can also tie maiden grapes to a gazebo - this is an excellent option for a local area. Lightweight metal elements will provide the necessary strength and at the same time will not become a problem during installation.
The support is based on a frame, which is a longitudinal and transverse set of pipes. It will be easy for the girl’s grapes to grow along such bulkheads, if, of course, the owner pursues this goal. It is advisable not to polish the metal so that the suction cups can easily cling to the surface, but they also do not leave dangerous burrs on the support.
It’s easy to build a gazebo from the remaining materials, not necessarily metal.
Construction can be seasonal or permanent. The first is less durable, but durable, due to the fact that it can be removed for the winter.
Pergola
Pergolas are used for tying up vines, climbing roses and other climbing crops. They are suitable for heavy perennials, light annuals - in a word, a universal product.
Supports are made from metal pipes, beams and other materials
Canopy
You can tie the girl’s grapes not only to the wall of the house, but also to a separate support, which is a canopy. The structure is made as a pyramid, column, tetrahedron. A canopy is not necessarily a solid product; it is also made of metal mesh and wooden beams.
The supports must be strong enough to support their own weight and the mass of the maiden grapes. During windy conditions, the canopy will also experience longitudinal load, so they approach the preparation of the foundation very carefully.
The stand can become part of the lamp, fit the wall of the building or stand alone
Lattices
This type of support is universal - the gratings can be placed separately or made into a single structure from several elements. If you need to zone the corners of the garden, lattice supports will be the best solution.
Using grates, you can create a secluded place by placing a fountain or bench inside
What to make a support for girlish grapes from
To organize the support you will need certain materials. The choice of most gardeners: wooden beams, metal pipes with a cross-section of 50-60 cm, plastic overlays, corners and channels.
It should be remembered that working with metal elements involves welding; in some cases, self-tapping screws are used, but such a structure will be less durable. Wooden beams are more attractive, but without impregnation and varnishing they will not last long. Wood is prone to mold, and virgin grapes can become infected with fungus.
Plastic supports for maiden grapes are usually not used for the reasons indicated (it is difficult for suction cups to cling to them). Wood is the prettiest option, metal is the champion for longevity.
To tie up girlish grapes, supports alone are not enough. Tension elements are used that are attached between the columns:
- Nylon thread. Designed for a weight of up to 150 kg, does not rust and does not form sediment.
- Wire. For gartering, use a thread of 3 mm or thicker. Thin wire is easier to wind, but thick wire is more durable.
- Fishing line. Excellent for decorating supports, it is not afraid of precipitation.
- Insulated galvanized wire.The metal will make the base of the maiden grapes durable, while the rubber shell will protect it from moisture.
DIY frame for girlish grapes
The height is selected based on the general environment. As a rule, this is a 2-meter support - an increase in size leads to the growth of girlish grapes. It is inconvenient to trim a plant at such a height; a ladder may be needed.
Instructions on how to make a support for girlish grapes in the form of a trellis:
- If there are several racks, you need to maintain a distance between them. Calculations are made on the ground, marking the supports with bricks or pegs. Then in their place they dig holes 50 cm deep.
- To strengthen the supports, crushed stone is poured onto the bottom. The racks are placed in the center and poured with freshly prepared concrete in one day.
- An intermediate element is stretched between the beams - wire, fishing line, nylon. If the beams are made of metal, the wire is welded, passed through drilled holes or screwed. On wooden structures everything is simpler, as long as you have a hammer and nails.
How to properly tie maiden grapes
Organizing a support is a simple matter; any gardener can handle it. When the work comes to completion, all that remains is to tie the girl’s grapes to the wire. If the plant is young, it is important to direct the growth of shoots in a specific direction. When growing a crop on a hedge, this is not so important; the shoots can develop on their own.
But if we are talking about capital construction, garter is a mandatory procedure. Otherwise, the girl's grapes will spread on the ground - where insects, larvae, and fungi hide. Young branches are attached horizontally to the lower supports. This is done so that they do not grow straight up, leaving the lower part empty.
If it is decided to attach the girl’s grapes to the wall, the direction is set based on architectural considerations - taking into account the positions of doorways, windows and other elements. Once the vine has reached this point, it is cut off, attached to nearby shoots and slightly moved to the side.
In the northern regions, young vines are sent indoors. Usually they are transplanted into a pot and stored on the balcony. To make the girl’s grapes look appropriate, the container is placed in the corner farthest from the doorway. The shoots are tied up so that they grow, on the contrary, towards the door. If the vine is very long, it can be planted vertically and then horizontally again. Garden gazebos are decorated in the same way.
Conclusion
A support for girl's grapes must meet three criteria - be reliable, environmentally friendly (not form fungus) and serve for a long time. Wooden and metal structures deserve attention; the vine can be attached to them without difficulty. Plastic is rarely used, but if it has a matte surface, it is also suitable for tying.
