How to prune grapevines
By Alan Jolliffe
Winter is the time to start pruning grape vines. Waiting until mid winter is important to ensure the vine does not bleed when the stems are cut. Do not leave it too late or else the sap will start to flow encouraging growth in spring.
Pruning is very simple. Make sure the main structure of the vine is in place. Usually this is a main stem. Growing up about 1 metre and branching out horizontally along a wire or frame. New growth grows vertically from these branches.
Remove the vertical growth and leave two or three buds on a short stem arising from the main stem. Over time these will form quite nice, and sometimes, large spurs.
Remove or trim back the end of the main stems to the desired length.
For younger vines remove the old tendrils that grip the structure it is climbing along.
Winter is the time to start pruning grape vines. Waiting until mid winter is important to ensure the vine does not bleed when the stems are cut. Do not leave it too late or else the sap will start to flow encouraging growth in spring.
Pruning is very simple. Make sure the main structure of the vine is in place. Usually this is a main stem. Growing up about 1 metre and branching out horizontally along a wire or frame. New growth grows vertically from these branches.
Remove the vertical growth and leave two or three buds on a short stem arising from the main stem. Over time these will form quite nice, and sometimes, large spurs.
Remove or trim back the end of the main stems to the desired length.
For younger vines remove the old tendrils that grip the structure it is climbing along.