How to install wire trellis for passionfruit on Colourbond fence?

Question

Hi team,

I’m hoping for some advice on the best way to install a wire trellis for a passionfruit vine along my Colorbond fence.

I’ve attached a photo of the area. The passionfruit will be planted near the corner beside the compost bay, and I’d like to train it in both directions — along the green Colourbond fence and along the navy Colourbond fence.

My current idea is to run two horizontal galvanised wires near the top of the fence, approximately as shown by the black lines in the photo.

I initially thought about using screw eyes at the panel joins, but I’m concerned about putting unnecessary load on the Colorbond itself, particularly once the passionfruit is mature and heavy.

I’ve also seen the Bunnings Workshop suggestion of mounting treated pine to the fence posts using galvanised angle brackets, then attaching the trellis to the timber. I’m wondering whether a variation of this would be suitable for my setup, or whether there is a simpler/better way of creating stand-off attachment points.

Ideally I’d like the finished trellis to be fairly discreet. I’m happy to paint any timber supports to match each Colourbond fence.

Thank you in advance!

EricL · Answer

Hello @Tkholmes

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about installing a wire trellis.

There have been some very interesting discussions about this method of supporting passionfruit and plants on the fence.

I suggest having a quick look at these discussions about installing wire trellis:

* Training climbers to screen a fence by @royq 
* How to attach wire trellis onto a Colorbond fence and shed? by @jono1983 
* How to add diamond wire trellis to concrete tank for training Star Jasmin? by @MandyW 
* How to install wire trellis on pergola? by @hajunu 
* How to install wire between galv posts for trellis? by @Mick7 
* How to create a trellis by attaching wire rope to gal steel posts? by @Rosegrower

In your particular situation, if you are not keen on doing the diamond format of trellis guides, it is possible to install it in the straight square fashion you've drawn up. However, it does limit the point at which the passion fruit can access the top of the guide. It would be necessary to install timber spacers so that the trellis wire will not be right next to the Colorbond fence or post.

Please note that the wire does not have to tensioned too much as doing so will damage the mounting screws and the fence. My best advice is to remember to only drill into the post and the top and bottom cover of the fence. Do not drill into the fence itself as the sharp end of the screw will be exposed on the otherside which can pose as a hazard to your neighbour.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric