How to install wire between galv posts for trellis?

Mick7

Hi all,

I have sunk 4 x 50x50mm Galv fence posts in the back yard with a view to wiring up a trellis to support a star jasmine 'fence'.

With the fence posts sunk, I'm now looking to 'wire it up' and looking at options to do this. Once the jasmine grows, it will be a dad over 2m tall.

Seeking thoughts on the best way to do this. I see two broad options - attaching something like reo mesh and be done with it. Debatebly simpler, although until it grows perhaps not as aesthetic.

Other option might be wire with turnbuckles run every 300mm or so (?) horizontally up?

I'm thinking something like chicken wire or rolls of fencing wire might not cope with the weight of Jasmine?

Any thoughts on methods, products, anything else I'm missing etc is very much welcome :)

MitchellMc

Hi @Mick7,

First thing to consider is durability. Chicken wire and light fencing wire are worth ruling out straight away because they’re too thin and will start sagging once the jasmine puts on weight. Reo mesh is definitely the simplest and strongest option and would get the job done with minimal effort, but as you’ve already noted, it can look pretty industrial until the plant fills in.

A nicer balance is using stainless steel twisted cable with turnbuckles. That said, I wouldn’t run a turnbuckle on every horizontal line, as you can easily pull the tops of your posts inward if you overtension them. Instead, fix your horizontal runs every ~300mm using saddles, pull the cable reasonably tight during install, and then use just one turnbuckle at the top and one at the bottom to tension the whole system. The continuous cable will run from the bottom turnbuckles across to the other post, through the saddle, up to the next saddle and then back across. This gives you a clean look, enough strength for mature jasmine, and avoids putting too much stress on the posts.

I've created the rendering below to illustrate.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell