How to Plant Cabernet Vines Less Than a Meter Apart

Plant cabernet grapevines in mid-spring when the last frost lifts. These plants need warm starts as seedlings and suffer in late frosts and cold early spring storms. Wait until temperatures reach 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for this planting.

Find a site with full sun exposure, quick drainage and good air circulation. South-facing slopes work well for grapes, as they drain quickly and have consistent sun exposure. Set aside 3 feet of space per plant in the row and 8 to 9 feet between rows. Cabernet grapes will grow in close row spacing in small plantings but do best with more room between rows.

Prepare individual planting sites to save work and resources. Dig into the top 12 inches of soil in each site, in a 1-foot-square area, and mix the soil well. Turn 5 inches of organic compost into the pre-dug soil to nourish it, loosen the base for root growth and encourage moisture retention. Grapes do best with deep, successful root systems.

Dig holes as deep and twice as wide as the cabernet root balls for planting. Spread each set of roots in a hole to encourage soil exposure and fill in the holes slowly with amended soil. Pack the soil down intermittently to get rid of air pockets.

Water each grapevine with half a gallon of water to settle the soil and spread 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil in a 2-foot circle. Mulch keeps soil warm and moist and discourages weed growth. Grapes don't grow with weed competition, especially in crowded plantings.

Prune each grapevine down to three to five growing buds to enhance new growth. Put a trellis 4 to 5 inches behind each row of grapes for support during growth. In a crowded planting, use a tall trellis with three to four tiers. This gives each grapevine room for upward growth.