When & How Much to Prune Grape Bushes?

Winter

• Winter is a good time to prune the grape vines while the cuts won't generate any new growth. Wait until winter is almost over, so that the vines have less chance of severe cold damaging the tissues. This is before the sap starts running through the bark and the cuts have a chance to harden off a little. By the time spring arrives, the cleaned vines resist the damp temperatures conducive to mildew.

Summer

• Summer is still pruning time for grapes. As new growth aggressively comes in, select which vines to keep and which to prune. Choosing several vines growing in the same direction prevents the branches from crossing over each other. This enables the fruit will hang neatly with better air circulation. Snipping out weak or diseased growth keeps the vines clean and healthy.

First 3 Years

• First 3 years makes the grape vine's structure. You want the main stem to grow strong and able to support the rest of the vine, and so prune all the extra growth that wants to grow from the sides. Choose the vine's form and then prune heavily to keep the structure. Cut back all the fruiting vines to three or four buds. Limiting the fruit enhances its quality.

Three Years and Beyond

• Continue keeping the structure of the grape vine you established during the first 3 years. The core wood thickens and hardens in the years but attend to new growth. Pick new branches for fruiting and trim them back to the three or four buds. Expect to remove almost 90 percent of the wood during the winter pruning on mature vines. After a few years, allow new growth to replace the older fruiting wood but keep the vine's original framework.