How to Care for Muscadines

Plant muscadines in neutral to acidic soil. Provide ample sunlight and drainage.

Pollinate female vines using self-pollinating vines every third row. Or, use just the self-pollinating variety.

Train the vines on a system of trellising that will encourage optimal growth. Space the vines 20 feet apart, and use 9-gauge wire for the top part of the trellis so each vine will follow the wire as it grows and will branch out 6 feet above the ground.

Prune heavily between mid-January and mid-March to encourage spring growth. Prune canes to 3 inches in the third year. Cut back the shoots that emerge from the canes to produce spurs. Trim and eliminate anything other than these spurs, removing tendrils and spacing out the spurs to every 6 inches or so.

Irrigate and fertilize. Use drip irrigation during May and June. In some climates, summer rain will provided enough water for the rest of the season. Fertilize in April, June and August of the first year, using 1/4 lb. of 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 fertilizer per plant. Follow up with 1 or 2 lbs. of fertilizer in March, June and July the second year, then 3 to 4 lbs. in the same months in later years.

Control pests and diseases. Keep weeds in check either manually if you have a small vineyard or using herbicides recommended by your county agricultural extension service. Use insecticide, if necessary, against the grape root borer. Look for the adult moth of this insect so you can time your insecticide application accordingly.