Little Grape Pergola On the Prairie

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Any tips on how to keep this level? The garden earth beneath my pergola is allowing sinking on the left side... My grapes are three times this growth shown already. What can I do to level it, without damaging the plants?

Featured Answer

btydrvn

11 years ago

Maybe if you can insert larger cement squares under each post ...atleast 18 inch squares..however the uprights and supports look a little insubstantial for supporting mature vines..the vines will probably have to be moved to allow a bigger support base anyway...since they are such fast growers you may have to take a set back or ask a nursery if you should wait til they are dormant to disturb them

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Comments (6)

R D
10 years ago
Sorry to hijack your thread, Danielle LaPointe, but I would like to ask something.I'm planning to build a Pergola for my grape vine next spring. It would be a little bigger than yours. I noticed that you're using Dek-Blocks to hold the pergola.

I dislike the idea of using in-ground cement to hold the posts, so I'm curious to know if those Dek-Blocks are a good alternative? Would it hold the pergola together in high winds? I live in the southern Quebec with warm summer and super cold winters.

Though I know keeping it leveled would be a challenge.
Danielle LaPointe thanked R D
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btydrvn
10 years ago
RD ...not to high jack your high jack ...but we have taken the post to the next step and set it with block inside a big flower pot...still standing after 13-14 years...pot was even real low end
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btydrvn
10 years ago
Our pergola is connected to the house ...so wind has not been an issue...
Danielle LaPointe thanked btydrvn
btydrvn
10 years ago
Was looking at original pic on this post..leveling is of course vital..especially when unattached ...exposed to heavy winds ...not anchored in the ground and with the weight of heavy vines over time....over the years I have seen pergolas that are loved and enjoyed (myself included) but were under built and regrets are abundant that the sturdiest construction and best load bearing materials were not made in the beginning...as they take a long time to become beautiful and fruitful ....and are many times ....severely damaged ...when repair or replacement is needed...the nature of a pergola is that it could take ten or twenty years to reach that gorgeous coverage stage...at which point... the under done structures are falling apart
Danielle LaPointe thanked btydrvn
PRO
Mark Eric Benner - Architects, Ltd.
10 years ago
Foundations are the key to resist settling or sinking. It appears that there are concrete post blocks supporting the legs of the pergola. These have a tendency to compact or sink into the garden or topsoil, resulting in the sinking condition described.

I would typically recommend a 12" diameter concrete footing, poured to at least the frost depth for your region or about three feet in depth to prevent overturning.

As a solution for the existing conditions, I would suggest that you temporarily support one corner at a time to dig a foundation hole, about 14" in diameter and three feet deep. Then, backfill with crushed gravel and compact solid. Re-place the concrete post base.

Good luck.
Danielle LaPointe thanked Mark Eric Benner - Architects, Ltd.