When to Prune Wild Grapes

Characteristics

• Wild grapes that aren't cultivated native growers, may get at long as 100 feet. The leaves are 4 inches wide and long, with serrated edges. Berries grow approximately 12 per cluster, each 1 inch in diameter. The fruits are dark purple or bronze in color, each containing up to five seeds. The berries become ripe July through September. Pruning the vine at the wrong time of year may delay or prevent flowering and fruiting along the vine.

Timing

• Grapevines should be pruned when they are dormant, from January to March. Once mature, wild grapes must be pruned annually because growth is so rapid. When pruning, it's important to avoid year-old fruiting canes and spurs. Fruiting occurs on one-year growth, so gardeners must focus the bulk of their pruning attention on older, more mature wood. Pruning grapes too early or too late in dormancy may cause damage, by encouraging new growth that could be damaged by frost.

Training

• Train wild grapevines around tall, upright posts, such as a trellis or fence. Two horizontal wires may be pulled taut across two posts to create a simple support system. When the grapevine grows 5 feet tall, gardeners may begin pruning it yearly. Thin out fruiting canes evenly when they appear to leave four to six canes and spurs on the mature vine. Each cane will produce up to 12 flowers that may bear grapes.

Pruning Tips

• Wild grapevines should be pruned heavily every single year. Heavy pruning helps to create fewer, but much healthier, fruits. Vines should have no more than 20 to 60 buds. When pruning canes, cut them back 3 to 4 feet to the base of the vine. Removing old canes encourages new, healthy growth.