How to Properly Prune Grape Vines in Arizona

Spur Pruning Technique

• 1

  Trim off all weak, thin side twigs from the main cordon arms tied on the grapevine trellis structure with a hand pruners. Make the cut flush with their connection to the lower main plant branch arms on the trellis. Do not cut into larger, vigorous-looking shoots (called spurs) on the main branch arms yet.

• 2

  Inspect the main cordon arms on the entire grapevine plant. Thin out the larger, vigorous spur shoots along the cordon arms so they are spaced 6 to 10 inches apart.

• 3

  Cut each spur shoot back so only two buds remain. Make the pruning cut 1/2 inch above the second dormant bud. When done, the cordon arms of the grape plant will display numerous short spurs, each with two dormant buds.

Cane Pruning Technique

• 4

  Choose two lateral canes to retain on each of the grapevine trellis tiers. Often the grapevine is trained onto two wires at heights of 3 feet and 5 or 6 feet.

• 5

  Prune off all other shoots and thin, weak-looking stems from the main structure of the grapevine. Retain the two lateral canes, making sure not to accidentally cut them away while thinning out the undesirable growth. Make all pruning cuts 1/4 to 1/2 inch above a lower branch junction or dormant bud.

• 6

  Cut back one of the two vine canes so 12 to 15 buds remain in a long, whip-like branch. Tie this cane to the trellis with twine snugly, but with some gap to allow the branch to wiggle in the wind and grow in girth over the upcoming summer.

• 7

  Reduce the length of the second cane so only two healthy dormant buds remain. The pruning cut is made 1/2 inch above the second bud to create what is known as the renewal spur. This renewal spur grows canes that the following winter are pruned as the two main lateral canes cut back to 12 or 15 buds.