Pruning the Backyard Grapevine

Proper pruning of your backyard grapevines isthis year.The two methods of pruning grapevines are
essential to maintain vine size, shape, and yield of theshort "spurs" and long "canes". The idea behind spur
grapes. If you don't prune your vines, they willand cane pruning is the same. They differ in which of
become unruly, tangled messes. Fruit ripeness willthe buds are the most fruitful on the particular
suffer. Overproduction of the vine may lead tovariety you are pruning. Varieties where the bottom
premature death. It is also one of the harder thingsbuds are fruitful are spur pruned. Varieties where the
to visualize but one of the easier things to accomplishbottom buds aren't fruitful are generally cane
for the home gardener.Pruning is performed in thepruned.Spur pruned vines are trained to heads and
early spring while the vine is still dormant. This is donecordons. The difference here is that head trained
in February, March, or early April depending uponvines are pruned to a couple to several spurs close in
when the grapevines generally come out ofto the main trunk of the vine. Cordon trained vines
dormancy and bud out.Pruning the grapevine andhave arms extending out from the trunk, on each
training the vine go hand-in-hand. You must decideside, with several spurs generated along the main
the way you want to train the vine in order to pruneframe of the arms. Either way of training has spurs
it correctly. Vines that "droop" should be trained to aof two to three buds each.Cane pruning involves
top wire of about 6 feet. Canes are then pruned andleaving at least one long cane of one-year old wood
trained outward from the middle on each side of theon each side of the trunk. The number of buds to
trunk. As the new shoots grow, they droop on eachleave depends on the variety and how much growth
side of this high pruned wire, naturally, taking inof the vine occurred during the last growing season.
account of their habit of growth. Concord, and otherUsually, 7-12 buds are left on each cane. But this is
native American varieties are typical of thoserelative. And that's where pruning becomes an art.
varieties that droop downward naturally.Varieties thatAfter several years you will gain a "feel" of how
grow upright are trained to a low wire of about 3many buds to leave based upon its performance in
feet and allowed to grow upward according to theirthe prior growing season.Besides the cane that is left,
natural growth habit. These varieties need severala small, two-bud spur is left for next year's cane and
wires above the trained canes in order that thespur. That's why this method is often referred to as
upright growing shoots have something to attach to.cane and spur pruning. The spur that is left at pruning
Often, you will need to tie the growing shoots totime is known as a renewal spur. It gives rise to next
these wires to keep the grown going up and toyear's cane and renewal spur.Each year the job of
prevent wind damage. European grapes, V. vinifera,pruning will become easier. You will soon begin to
and many hybrid varieties (crosses between theunderstand what is happening as you watch your
European grape and American species) fall into thisvine grow during the summer. Your visualization of
category.Whether trained to a high wire or to a lowhow the vine is supposed to look each year will
wire, the pruning techniques are the same. Thegrow. This will make the pruning each spring go
amount of one-year old, fruitful wood to be leftsmoothly.The tools used to prune your grapevines
after pruning is dependent upon the amount ofare hand pruners, loppers, and small handsaws. Select
vegetation produced during the previous growingthe appropriate pruning tool to remove the wood as
season. Usually, around 90-95% of last year's growthcleanly as possible and reduce unnecessary injury to
is pruned off. The wood left is dependent upon thethe vine. Hand pruners are used to remove one year
variety, how vigorous last years growth was,old wood. Older wood requires the use of loppers.
whether the variety over produces or underSometimes old, unfruitful trunks need to be removed.
produces, and how old the vine is all enter into howThis is where the handsaw comes in.Learning the art
you will prune it.Grapes bear fruit on one year oldof grapevine pruning takes time and practice. You
wood. Thus when you prune the vine you will becan contact your local county Ag Extension agent or
leaving one year old buds to produce the fruitAgricultural University for bulletins on grapevine
clusters this year. Much of what will be removed ispruning. These grapevine pruning bulletins have
two year wood with attached canes from last year'sdrawings and pictures of what you are trying to
growth (that won't be needed this year) and excessaccomplish and will make your pruning easier. Just
one year old canes. When pruning you will be tryingmake sure that you prune your grapevines every
to balance the growth of the vine based upon how ityear to maintain their size and shape, and to
grew and bore fruit last year.Excessively vigorousmaximize the fruit production and overall fruit
vines that overbore their fruit last year will be prunedquality.Jim Bruce has been growing grapes since the
with more buds as this will de vigor the growth andmid-seventies under a range of growing conditions.
balance the vine's growth this year. Low vigor vinesHis Rist Canyon Vineyards is a research project to
will be left with fewer buds to invigorate their growthaid others in growing grapes.