How to Prune Grapevines in Alabama

Of the grapevines that grow in Alabama, the muscadine was the first species of wild American grapes to be formally cultivated. The muscadine vine needs annual pruning while it's dormant, a period in Alabama that lasts from December to March. This yearly trimming prevents disease. It also enhances the quality of the crop, even though the yield is somewhat reduced. Pruning muscadine grapevines, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is a three-step process done in a specific order.

Shears
Knife

Instructions

- 1
  Prune the side fruiting canes, called spurs, which produced muscadine grapes the previous season, to 4 or 5 inches. Leave vigorous vines with longer spurs, having four or more buds. These vines must be in soil that's high in nutrition and consistently moist to support a heavier grape production.
- 2
  Thin the vine's fruiting spurs after their third harvest to prevent the plant from becoming crowded with canes. Don't remove all 3-year-old spurs, as that dramatically reduces crop yield. Select a few of the older canes to chop off every year.
- 3
  Cut the tendrils if they encircle the grapevine's branches. Slash them with a sharp knife to keep them from killing the vine. Retain only the tendrils wrapped around the trellis.

Proper Care of Grape Vines

How to Grow Muscadine Grape Vines

Growing Grapes