How to Relocate a Grapevine

Old, established grapevines have deep root systems -- often up to 5 feet deep -- and do not take well to relocation. Younger vines, like those only a couple of years old that have not begun to produce heavily, can be transplanted with greater success. Relocate a vine to a site that offers full sun, a natural trellis like a fence and enough room for your vine to sprawl. Perform this garden chore in the late winter when heavy frosts have passed and before the plant resumes growth.

Shovel
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Dig up the root system of your grapevine, getting as many of the roots out of the ground as you can. Work slowly down and around the plant to gather all of its roots in a cluster below the main stem.
- 2
  Lift the grapevine out of the ground and place the plant in a wheelbarrow. Wheel it over to the new site.
- 3
  Dig a hole in the new location that is twice as wide and deep as the grapevine root. Once you've dug up the vine, you will be able to estimate how large a hole to make.
- 4
  Lift your plant from the wheelbarrow and place it in the new hole so the roots point down. Make sure the plant sits at the same level in the soil as it did in the previous planting location. There will be a horizontal line where the soil ended that can help you make sure you don't plant too deep.
- 5
  Push the soil in around the plant, gently mounding soil over the grape vine roots.
- 6
  Water the relocated vine until the soil becomes saturated and compresses around the plant. This removes air pockets from the soil.
- 7
  Trim back the vine shoots, which helps reduce stress on the root system.
- 8
  Keep the vine adequately watered thereafter to reduce transplant stress on the plant.

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