How to Stop a Grapevine From Growing Vertically

Position a 7-foot stake 4 to 6 inches behind the grapevine's main stem. Drive the bottom 18 inches of the stake into the ground with a rubber mallet. Drive a second stake into the ground, 5 feet to the left of the first stake. Drive a third stake into the ground, 5 feet to the right of the first stake.

Measure up the first pole to 5 feet with a tape measure. Draw a horizontal line across the stake at this point with a pencil or chalk. Repeat this process with the two remaining stakes.

Wrap the end of a 12 to 14 gauge wire two to three times around the mark on the leftmost stake, leaving a 3- to 4-inch tail pointing toward the center stake. Stretch the wire to the center stake, wrapping it two to three times around the stake over the marked line. Stretch the wire to the rightmost stake, wrapping it around the marked line in the same manner as before.

Cut the wire with a pair of wire cutters leaving a 3- to 4-inch tail. Bend the tail around the stake until it points toward the center stake. Twist the wire's tail around the length of wire stretching between the two stakes. Repeat the twisting process with the first wire tail.

Wrap a piece of twine around the grapevine's main vertical stem and the stake 6 inches above ground level. Tie the ends of the twine together in a knot, pulling twine tight enough to hold the vine to the stake but loose enough to avoid cutting into the stem's bark. Tie the remaining length of the vertical stem to the stake in this same manner, spacing the ties 6 inches apart. Leave the top 6 inches of the stem loose to avoid damaging the tender tip.

Cut off all lateral, or side, shoots from the main, vertical stem. Make each cut 1/4 inch above the shoot's base with a pair of pruning shears.

Secure the main stem's new growth to the stake as it occurs, adding a tie every 6 inches. Prune lateral shoots as they emerge from the vertical stem.

Top the main vertical stem once it reaches 3 to 4 inches below the horizontal wire. Cut through the main stem with pruning shears, 1/4 inch above the first or second bud. Leave the grapevine to develop lateral shoots from the pruning cut.

Select the two strongest lateral shoots growing from the top of the grapevine's vertical stem. Cut off all other lateral shoots growing from the top and sides of the grapevine, once the shoots reach 10 to 12 inches in length.

Pull one of the lateral stems gently to the left, so that it curves over to the left horizontal wire. Tie the shoot to the wire with a piece of twine, spacing it 6 inches from its tip. Repeat this process with the second lateral shoot to secure it along the right section of wire.

Remove any side shoots from the two branches of the grapevine to encourage them to lengthen along the wire. Secure the new growth of each branch to the wire as it occurs, spacing the ties every 6 inches.

Pinch back the tips of each branch once they reach the two side stakes. Cut each stem back to 1/4 inch above a downward facing bud. Allow the downward side shoots to develop. Trim off any side shoots that grow vertically upward on the top of each branch to keep the grapevine from growing taller.