The Best Time to Prune Vines in a Cold Weather Climate

Pruning During Dormancy

• Most vines that grow in cold-weather climates enter dormancy in late fall or early winter, dropping their leaves and stopping growth. The best pruning time for many of these vines is in late winter or very early spring, when the plant is poised to put out new growth, or new wood, that produces the season's foliage and flowers. Pruning while the plant is dormant also allows you to see its structure clearly, helping you decide which stems to cut back. The trumpet creeper (Campis radicans) is an example of a vine that develops flowers on new wood and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.

Pruning Old Wood

• Some woody vines bloom on old wood, or shoots that grew during the previous growing season. Although you can prune these types during winter dormancy, cutting back old wood prevents new bud production and interferes with the current year's flowering. For these vines, you might wait to prune until after flowers have faded, but avoid pruning in early fall to midfall, because this can produce tender new growth that is susceptible to damage from winter's cold temperatures. The Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is an example of an early-spring bloomer that flowers on new wood and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10.

Making Pruning Decisions

• The exact method you follow to prune a vine depends to some degree on its condition and your goals. For an established plant that has become tangled and overgrown, you can start by removing dead or damaged vines and then untangle the vines and head some of them back by one-third to one-half. If the tangling is extreme, you could snip randomly with shears through the mat of vines, wait a few days and remove the wilted or dead stems. For a severe pruning, head back all the stems to about half their original length. To prevent disease spread, disinfect pruning shears between cuts by dipping them in rubbing alcohol or a 10 percent solution of bleach in water.

Giving Care After Pruning

• After you've completed pruning a vine, keeping the plant well-watered helps minimize stress and promotes good growth, especially during the hot, dry summer months. Adding a 2- or 3-inch layer of organic mulch also helps conserve soil moisture and keeps down weeds that compete for water and soil nutrients. For vines that don't have tendrils or a coiling growth habit, tie new shoots to their support with plastic garden tape or strips of cloth, tying these loosely to avoid injuring tender new stems. For a vine that clings naturally, temporarily tacking plastic or nylon mesh over the new stems and onto the support can help train the stems until they establish attachments.