Grape arbors are a beautiful,
time-honored addition to your garden
Grape arbors have been used for
centuries to provide beauty, form, and function.
Arbors still have the same uses today and make
a great addition to a modern garden. They provide
shade, fruit, and style. The lush grapes, leaves,
and canes growing around an arbor can be enjoyed for
their appearance and the depth they add to any
garden design.
The grapes can be picked to eat
straight off the vine, or made into tasty and unique
jellies, juices, or wines. The leaves and canes also
provide shade and coverage in an outdoor sitting
area.
Grapes like a lot of sun, so be sure to select an
arbor site that gets plenty of consistent sunlight.
Also, research types of grapes that grow best in
your region. As a rule of thumb, however, there are
two basic types of grapes. The European variety,
like the Thompson seedless, tolerates the cold but
requires a lot of sun and heat with a longer growing
season. If you live in a climate that does not
consistently receive lots of sun and heat, you might
want to consider a Concord variety. This type has a
short growing season and thrives in colder climates.
There are many types of arbors. Your selection
depends on your use of the grape arbor and the type
of grapes you decide to grow. You can use an arbor
as an archway to mark an entrance to a garden,
patio, or seating area. You can also construct an
arbor to cover your patio. The grapevines will lace
up the beams and arbor supports to create an airy
patio covering that provides shade and filters
light.
You can also construct an arbor as a
garden trellis.
In any case, choose an arbor that’s right for the
type of grape you plan to grow. Arbors can be
constructed using wood, galvanized steel, vinyl,
copper, iron, and other materials – just make sure
the material can stand up to weather and support the
weight of the grapevine.
Care for your grape arbor can be a fun and
rewarding project for your whole family. Each family
member can take part in the watering, pruning, and
harvesting of your grapes while enjoying the
satisfying feeling of watching your grape arbor
thrive. And what’s more, grapes grow well in many
different climates and regions – just check to make
sure the grapes you select fit the region in which
you live.
Before I planted grapes I visited a local
winery and found out what they were planting. I
was able to pick up these vines from garden
shop. If you have a good relationship with the
local vineyard (buy a few bottles of wine), they
might even give you clippings that you can plant
and grow.
Care of grapes is flexible. Arbors can have a
natural appearance where the vines grow randomly. A
more natural vine will bring a casual element your
garden. Very little care is involved and you will
get a great deal of shade but less fruit. This is
due to the fact that the more you prune a grape
vine, the more fruit the vine will produce.
On the
other hand, arbors with a more maintained appearance
will have more orderly placement of vines and
produce a greater crop of fruit. You control how the
vine grows through pruning. Arbors with a more
maintained appearance will introduce a more formal
tone to your garden.
Now that you know how to select a grape and the
types of grape arbors available, you can choose an
arbor that will add style, character, and function
to your outdoor living space.
For more information on building your own garden
structure, please read this article on
tips on building garden arbors
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