Regular pruning is essential for controlling grape canes and producing quality fruit yields. Be sure to remove all other canes. Let’s look at how to prune grapes. If your canes aren’t tangled or twisted, you can disregard this. Remove any flower clusters that appear because they remove energy from the plant that can be used for vegetative growth. Prune vines … tend to grow so vigorously, pruning back your grapevine may seem like a daunting prospect. Knowing how to prune grapes can make the difference between a good crop and a bad one. When they reach the length that you prefer, pinch off the ends which will encourage tertiary shoots to fill the rest of the space. Remove any shoots that grow out from the main trunk or that sprout from the root area. These grape varieties should be pruned into one horizontal trunk that can be easily removed from the trellis or support structure. Trim back the woody canes from the previous year. Infection from wound damage caused by pruning is less likely to occur while the vine is dormant because the vine has more time to recover before the next growing season. Grapes should be pruned during their dormancy, usually in late winter. As the grapevine grows, it is trained onto the wire(s), removing all shoots between the wires and cutting back the shoots along the lower one to only two buds. Pruning grape vines maximizes the amount of one-year-old wood on your plant without encouraging it to develop more grape clusters than it can feed. Untangle the grape vines so you can keep track of your pruning. Renewal spurs will supply the new fruit canes for the next year’s growing season. Now that the main trunk shoot is looking good, tie it to the trellis using plant tape or twine. Prune grapevines during the winter to reduce the risk of infection. What Is Biennial Bearing and How Can You Prevent It? The fact that grapes, hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 10, are so vigorous will work to your advantage when you prune your vine… Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. For now, feel free to continue reading. Mature vines will have about four to six canes with anywhere from five to 10 buds on each and four to six renewal spurs with two buds each. Cut each shoot back to two or three buds above where it started growing from the main truck the previous spring. Select a sturdy cane and cut this back 3 to 4 feet, leaving at least a two-bud renewal spur. Keep an eye on the lateral shoots as they grow. The bottom one is usually about 3 feet from the ground while the other about 5 feet. As the vine completes each growing season, you’ll cut off the old trunk just below the renewal cane. Cut any remaining shoots back to 6-8 inches in length. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Grape vines can reach enormous proportions. Gardeners truly enjoy the fresh taste of homegrown grapes; however, the work to maintain grapevines can be a challenge. During the winter, cut the main shoot back to a few inches below the first support of the trellis. The main pruning season for grape vines is early winter, but they need regular pruning and maintenance throughout the growing season to keep them manageable and productive. If they are not pruned heavily, the vine will be … With your gardening gloves on, search along the cordon for any tangled or twisted canes. When spring arrives, you’ll find several shoots that sprout from the buds below the cut that you made in the winter. Prune old, neglected vines in stages. Each winter, thin out the shoots that grow from the lateral branches that you trained over the trellis support system. 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If your grapevine reaches the top of the trellis, pinch the top of the vine and let two lateral shoots grow and spread out in either direction over the top of the support structure. 12 Ways to Protect Your Plants From a Heatwave in the Garden, 22 Uses for Herbs That Will Make You Want to Start a Herb Garden, Zone Seven Gardening: What to Plant, Growing Tips, and Which Gardening Style is Best, Growing Blueberries: Best Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest. If you require more extensive knowledge of pruning grapes, then further research may be needed. For more information about homegrown grapes… Pruning while the vine … Basic pruning of grapes is simple. This cane should be tied to a wire support or trellis. Concord vines can grow as much as 20 feet per year. However, for most home gardeners, simply pruning off the old wood and making way for new fruiting wood is all that is needed for how and when to prune a grapevine. 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