Cheap, durable trellis sources?

Hey folks,

I'm looking to grow several scuppernong / muscadine varieties here in North Alabama / zone 7(b), and I'm looking for something that I can trellis them on which I can whip up relatively easily (by myself, if necessary), without insane cost, and without scavenging pieces / going too heavily into the DIY from-scratch side of things (I'm pretty terrible at measuring and leveling). An assembled kit would be ideal, something that can hold the weight of grapes and handle the high winds out here is even better.

My problem is that there seem to be....almost no actual trellis kits out there. I see people sizing/cutting wood posts, I see people using T-posts and cattle panel, I see people using clothesline posts, using branches, pretty much everything on the DIY side, but I don't see a ton of affordable options for an effective trellis "kit" (beyond perhaps the ecotrellis, and I'm worried that it may not be able to hold grape weight, as it seems designed for cane plants like blackberries).

Hoping it's not agains the rules here to request anyone recommend places where I can pick up a kit to trellis about 5 grape plants (either the links or just the brands/sites I can go to).

Thanks in advance!

[Any arbors that work and fit the criteria are also appreciated! I've been using the Titan Squash Tunnel from Gardener's Supply Co. for my Kiwi, and I'm thinking about jus giving up and buying some of those for the grapes, as well, but I don't know if they have a decade-plus of staying power in the materials).

I'm also looking for a sturdy trellis. Everything prebuilt at home depot looked way to flimsy. They did however have 9ga cattle panel fence segments that were prebuilt. I might end up getting one of those and 2 fence posts.

That squash tunnel looks like just what I need but they wont ship out any more for another two months ;-;

I got 2 free matching children's swing sets off the local "free" site and use them for holding up my Kiwi vines. If they can handle kiwi, I'm sure they'd handle grape.

Picture here: https://permies.com/t/111184/permaculture-upcycling/ungarbage/Free-Craigslist-playsets#910503

T Simpson wrote:I'm also looking for a sturdy trellis. Everything prebuilt at home depot looked way to flimsy. They did however have 9ga cattle panel fence segments that were prebuilt. I might end up getting one of those and 2 fence posts.

That squash tunnel looks like just what I need but they wont ship out any more for another two months ;-;

The Squash Tunnel is nice for it's price range, but it's NOT hyper-sturdy. I'm around 220 lbs and while I can pull on the mid "connector" rail with some good strength and not feel it moving, I wouldn't put my full weight on it. And I'm thinking a kiwi could probably put 200lbs of vine on that after several years.

I realized the squash tunnel is rated for 70lbs.

T Simpson wrote:I realized the squash tunnel is rated for 70lbs.

Yeah, seems about right. Not the sturdiest of things.

I salvage old trampolines; with a bit of sawzall and sledgehammer work, one trampoline converts to a doubled arch using the legs to connect the two, like monkey-bars..

#14 screws and/or 1/4" bolts to secure it all.


They are strong enough to do a chinup, whether they survive years of vine assault remains to be seen... I figure in a pinch I will just add more steel until strong enough...

Easy to come by if in a town/city, bit tricky for me, not keen on an hour driving to get one!

My next idea is using the aluminum frames from sliding glass doors..

Remove the glass for your greenhouse project, and the remnants can be pretty solid, especially on larger doors.

Not sure how I'll design it yet.. I liked the lateral stability of the doubled arch, so this one might be a doubled triangular truss on shorter legs?

It would sure be nice to get set up for aluminum welding...

The answer as with many things is bamboo.

Old car frames are extremely sturdy and long lasting. Serious here, please don't hit me:) Had a Great Uncle who passed in the very early 60's, his grape / scuppernong trellis was built from old car frames and survived to modern times. A few years ago the current owners of his old place invited me over to pick my brain for what I remembered. (Should have invited my older brother but he was out of state at the time)

Wonderful visit and much was learned by both sides. When the subject of the trellis came up and they were describing, or trying to describe what they had removed. I piped up that they were car frames, "Oh, so that's what they were!" My brother who actually remembers them thinks at least some were from T model trucks.

Hm.. Not sure a modernish, rather convoluted car frame would be much fun as a trellis...but super old ones might be pretty good!


A mobile home frame is a reasonably attainable piece of salvage, and would make an amazing trellis.. If I didn't have more pressing uses for them!

If you look for a "something sturdy" kit instead of a "trellis" kit, you might find more opions. I have seen many pergola kits at Home Depot, Lowes, and other hardware stores. The wooden ones would probably do fine for grapes and would provide some shade and beauty as well. I don't think these are crazy expensive. Those stores might also provide assembly services where they will send someone out to build it for you. This might raise the cost, but gets around the trouble with cutting/measuring/leveling.

Another option might be to find a handyman (or handywoman) in the area who would be willing to help build something for you. Maybe there is a handy teenager that would like the experience?

Also keep in mind that a nice looking trellis is nice... but the grapes don't care if it is level or straight, as long as it doesn't fall over. Maybe this is a chance to practice?

6 vines?   All you need is 2 fence post or poles around 8 ft and some #9 galvanized wire per plant.
Sink 2 poles 20 ft apart and plant muscadine in the middle. Run to wire, prune, run down each way to post.  if you put all 6 in 1 row you need 5 fence post and 2 large post for ends.
 The only costly part would be the 2 end posts. I just use old ratchet straps for tentioning wire every few years, you could also just do some loop twist every year or two.

D Nikolls wrote:I salvage old trampolines; with a bit of sawzall and sledgehammer work, one trampoline converts to a doubled arch using the legs to connect the two, like monkey-bars..

#14 screws and/or 1/4" bolts to secure it all.


They are strong enough to do a chinup, whether they survive years of vine assault remains to be seen... I figure in a pinch I will just add more steel until strong enough...

Easy to come by if in a town/city, bit tricky for me, not keen on an hour driving to get one!

Pictures???  I'd love to see what that looks like because I have a frame in my iron stash.

A few pics, tried to show the various ways they are bodged together.

The legs are driven down into the ground, so they aren't quite as woobly as they look. Definitely movement if I hang myself(180lbs) off them, but they hold.

With things like D Nickolls has bodged up, I often hammer suitably sized rebar into the ground and then slide the tubing over the rebar.

D Nikolls:

Thanks for the pictures.

I don't have many grapes but I'll second the swing set idea.
Got one from my neighbors.

I really like the trampoline idea.
I've seen lots of them thrown away but couldn't think what I could do with it.

I have the parts from 2 porch swings that had the cushions and canvas seat webbing rotted out.  All the piping and decorative metal framework is powder coated so it wont rust and the light color blends in well and wont attract as much heat from the sun.  I plan to use this to create at least part of a tunnel for my grape vines, if that project ever makes its way to the top of the to do list.  Check yard sales or put a "In search of" add in your local yard sale site.

Matt McSpadden wrote:If you look for a "something sturdy" kit instead of a "trellis" kit, you might find more opions. I have seen many pergola kits at Home Depot, Lowes, and other hardware stores. The wooden ones would probably do fine for grapes and would provide some shade and beauty as well. I don't think these are crazy expensive. Those stores might also provide assembly services where they will send someone out to build it for you. This might raise the cost, but gets around the trouble with cutting/measuring/leveling.

Another option might be to find a handyman (or handywoman) in the area who would be willing to help build something for you. Maybe there is a handy teenager that would like the experience?

Also keep in mind that a nice looking trellis is nice... but the grapes don't care if it is level or straight, as long as it doesn't fall over. Maybe this is a chance to practice?

All heritage houses in my area have some grapes mounted on pergolas at the entrance of the house, facing sun. They are meant for temperature control. In summer they provide shade, humidity and coolness. In winter they allow the sun pass through the windows. They also provide some fruit, but that's a secondary benefit, and attract many wasps, which is not very welcomed by the home dwellers who love to sit under the grapes shade.