How to Cut Back Grape Vines in February

Prune grape vines in the late winter while the plants are dormant. Do this any time from when the leaves drop in the fall to when the buds swell in the spring. In most climates, February is the ideal time. Fruit is produced on 1-year-old wood. Remove all the canes except for those that produce this year’s fruit and some to grow into next year’s fruiting canes.

Examine shoots that developed the previous year and are now about as thick as a pencil and brown in color. Depending on the trellis design, select two or four canes that to keep for bearing fruit in the current year. Space these canes well apart from each other in good alignment with the trellis supports.

Cut each selected cane with sharp hand pruners at a 45-degree angle directly through the next bud beyond the last bud you are keeping, retaining the desired number of buds. Leave 50 to 80 buds per plant if you are growing table grapes. For wine grapes, remove all but 20 to 30 buds. Tie these fruiting canes loosely to the trellis with wire or string ties. There should be enough ties to support the canes but not so tight as to restrict their growth.

Select two to four additional canes for the fruiting canes the following year. Cut these canes back to leave only one or two buds on a short spur. These canes should be well positioned for attaching to the trellis the following year.

Using hand pruners, loppers or a handsaw as needed, remove all of the remaining vegetation and canes that are not required this year or for next year’s fruit. Cut them back completely to the main branch or trunk leaving no stub. When finished, you should have removed at least 90 percent of all the branches.