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