Randar, do you have any pics of your set up? I'm in Aurora IL, so were 'neighbors'. I'd like to add 8 different hops to the 4 I'm already growing. I'm trying to negotiate 'perfect trellis' with don't tick off my neighbors. I know there are a million threads here on trellis's but you've got a lot and were in the same region/climate. I'd like to role model someone local if possible as we share the same weather/insect/soil issues.
Any tips majorly appreciated.
Sure, no problem. For my trellis I scored 6"x6"x16' poles for 2 bucks each at a local home depot because someone had ordered them and rejected them for delivery. They are normally more than $50 each. It was dumb luck on my part. I used galvanized wire rope with inline turnbuckle tensioners and anchored them in 2 30' runs (2 parallel runs) with 40" earth anchors.
With our soil 3-3.5' deep is plenty deep, but you'll want to get a 2-man post hole auger.
Wish I had better pictures here at work. I will see what I can find at home.
As for the neighbors? Good luck! My nosey neighbor called the village on me and I had inspectors, planning/zoning commission, and utility people all come look at it before determining it was OK. No code for a "garden trellis" in my village thankfully.
The original inspectors came by to ask what it was, a couple of guys in their 50's. When I told them I grew hops, the one guy asked "what?". The other guy goes: "He grows his own hops... he makes his own beer... it must be awesome!"
So we had a good laugh. In the end I had to do very little. Check your local code for such things, call Julie to have your utilities marked, and then let any of your grumpy neighbors know what you're going to do so they aren't busting your balls about it.
I'm pretty close to Palwaukee airport (Chicago Executive), so my wife always gives me a hard time we should put warning lights on it!