Tensioners for wires on wall

Cambridgerose12

I have never used tensioners but I want to get some for training a Chaenomeles. I was wondering whether people have recommendations for a type or brand in particular. Cost is less of a factor as I will need very few. Thanks!

K67

If you are using sturdy vine eyes at either end don't screw them in fully tight, attached your wire as taut as you can then using pliers tighten the vine eyes and the wire will tighten up.

Obelixx

Just look in the fencing section of a DIY store rather than a garden centre.

Several models available depending on your structure
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wire+tensioner&sxsrf=ALeKk01U7E6Rpd9ewbyWogupGuggvZF_tQ:1617450861375&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=VGX-ddEg2-Oh0M%2Chu9sXwKGzTQkAM%2C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQvjvb_KWsaNOeHrH35QZllDxEjLw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmn6KAguLvAhXrBWMBHSCWDYkQ9QF6BAgGEAE&biw=1280&bih=606#imgrc=VGX-ddEg2-Oh0M 

Cambridgerose12

Great, thanks so much, @K67, that's helpful advice. I might be able to do without them entirely then. I'd seen on another post that they were good if the wire slackened over time--though perhaps this will not prove to be a problem in my rather small space.

nick615

Maybe not a problem over a short length of wire, but you should remember that most things shrink when cold and expand when warm.  Thus, to construct a fence in summer, it must have an element of slack in it to allow for contraction in winter - and possible breakage!  I've no idea what a Chaenomeles is but your wire should be galvanised to avoid rust and, to avoid chafing, any point at which it meets the plant will ideally be sheathed with rubber or plastic tubing (slid on to the wire before securing).

BenCotto

For ease of use check out the Gripple system. Harrod Horticultural  and Gardening Naturally both stock it.

Pete.8

I've found the gripple system very good too.
I've got 3 sets of wires around the garden for cordon fruit and climbers. They're easy to install and re-tension.
To re-tension, just pull the wire that comes out of the gripple. Takes 5 seconds max.
I just put the one on the pic on the fence last week.
Others have been in use for about 4 years and all good.
I've used fence post clips, but works just as well with vine eyes.
I get mine from Rivelin Glen

K67

I use the plastic Gripple system it's so much easier to work with than wire, fairly expensive to buy but last even galvanised wire tends to rust in places over time.

REMF33

I have a Gripple question. I bought a trellis kit, but not sure if it's now suitable. I have a 4.5m section of fencing I want to add support to for a clematis. I can't loop the wire around the fence posts and I can't access one of the posts at all so I need to screw the vine eyes into the horizontal wooden fence supports. So with that sort of extent, I am going to need at least 3 vine eyes along each length? Does the Gripple system work with that? I have googled and watched videos but they all seem to show installation a) going around posts and b) only between two vine eyes.
I am assuming the first aspect is not so important, but is the second? Do I need to do it in two lots? Is that the best way to do it anyway?

BenCotto

I think on the Gripple site the advice is vine eyes should be every 2 metres so, in your case with a 4.5 metre run, a vine eye at each end and one on the middle will be fine. You probably should treat it as two independent runs of nylon, each 2.25 metres long and each with two tensioners. However in the system I am about to put up with a 4 metre run I am just going to have a tensioner at each end and the vine eye in the middle will just be a support.

VE (vine eye)
T (tensioner)
.... (gripple nylon)

Your optimum solution
VE T .................... T VE T .................... T VE

My solution
VE T ........................ VE ....................... T VE

REMF33

Ok great. Thanks very much!