How to Prune Grape Vines & Muscadine Vines

Spur Pruning Instructions

• 1

  Conduct pruning in very late winter or early spring just before the leaf buds swell and break.

• 2

  Remove small, weak side stems from the main vining branches by snipping them with the pruners 1/4 inch above their attachment to the main branches.

• 3

  Keep larger, stronger side stems at a spacing of 6 to 12 inches on the main vining branches. These stronger, retained side stems are called the "spurs".

• 4

  Trim back each spur so only two buds remain. Make the pruning cut 1/3 to 1/4 inch above the second bud.

• 5

  Spray the pruner's blade with the 10% alcohol solution before pruning another grape vine plant. This kills any diseases, preventing unknowingly spreading pathogens between plants during the annual pruning maintenance.

Instructions for Cane Pruning

• 6

  Conduct pruning in very late winter or early spring just before the leaf buds swell and break.

• 7

  Select two to four robust, healthy-looking canes on the grape vine plant. Remove all other canes with a pruning cut at the base of the plant.

• 8

  Cut two remaining canes so that each has 12 to 15 buds, making the cut 1/3 inch above the uppermost bud.

• 9

  Reduce the remaining one or two canes so that each has two buds, making the cut 1/3 inch above the bud. These canes are the spur canes that grow this year and becomes next winter's pruning canes.

• 10

  Tie the two 12 to 15 bud canes to the support trellis in a horizontal position. The tie knot should be snug but not tightly restrictive upon the cane's bark.

• 11

  Spray the pruner's blade with the 10% alcohol solution before pruning another grape vine plant. This kills any diseases, preventing unknowingly spreading pathogens between plants during the annual pruning maintenance.