What Time of the Year Should You Prune Muscadines?

Prune When Dormant

• The time to structurally correct or guide muscadine grapes by pruning is when the plant is in a resting stage known as dormancy. This can happen at varying times of the year depending on the climate of the location but is typically late fall to winter. The plant will loose its leaves and may appear dead. Simply snip a small branch to see if the plant is alive. If it is healthy, live tissue should be visible. Branches will remain flexible throughout the dormant season but some freezing damage may cause tender shoots to die back. Pruning to maintain trellis form and optimal fruit set is done at this time of year.

Maintenance Pruning

• Maintenance pruning can be done throughout the year, as opposed to the heavy pruning done in winter. Tendrils should not be allowed to choke off growing points on the vine known as spurs. Prune any wayward vines reaching out into the maintenance area either under or along the trellis, and watch for overcrowded or diseased plants that need to be removed. The job of the grower is to monitor the health of the plant and to diligently keep the trunk area of the grape plant clear of shoots, unless training a new shoot to replace an old one.

Yearly Schedule

• Muscadine grapes do well when pruned and trained vigorously in the first and second year to encourage proper trellising, strength and quality of the plant, and for maintenance. The third season it is recommended to give the plant a rest from pruning, and let the natural fullness of the growth habit fill out. In the following seasons, regular pruning can be resumed.

Weeds and Spacing

• Although it is not considered pruning, weed control is necessary the first two years to ensure that the plant's surficial root system is not compromised by weed roots. Keep areas under the trellis completely clear of weeds for the first two years and mow regularly in the years thereafter to keep weed and grass growth back. Spacing is also important to ensure that the vines do not become overgrown. Plant new plants 10 to 20 feet apart in rows 8 to 10 feet apart, as the growing space allows.