How to Prune Grape Vines and Canes

Pruning is possibly the most important step a fruit grower can take when raising grapes. The average grapevine will produce as many as 300 buds

capable of producing fruit, far more than the vine is capable of sustaining to ripeness, according to the Iowa State University Extension. Proper pruning exposes the vine to more sunlight and helps the vine produce high quality grapes and grow healthy leaves and branches to sustain it for the next season.

Hand shears
Lopping shears
Saw
Colored fabric strips

Instructions

- 1
  Select the proper time for pruning. Prune grapevines in late winter or early spring.
- 2
  Select two to four fruiting canes per vine. Oregon State University Extension recommends that fruiting canes be at least the thickness of a pencil and close to the trunk. Remember that grapevines produce fruit on last season’s wood. Wood older than that will not set fruit.
- 3
  Select your “renewal spurs,” one cane near each fruiting cane. These will produce next year’s fruiting canes.
- 4
  Tie bright strips of fabric around the canes you want to keep to help you identify them.
- 5
  Prune off all growth, down to the main vine, other than your fruiting canes and renewal spurs.
- 6
  Cut the renewal spurs to one or two buds per cane.
- 7
  Cut back the fruiting canes to 15 buds per cane. Leave 50 to 80 buds per plant for eating grapes, recommends the OSU extension; 20 to 30 buds per plant for wine or jelly grapes.
- 8
  Remove and dispose of all plant waste. Leaving the discarded canes and leaves in the field encourages the spread of disease.

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