How to Prune Overgrown Grapes

Overgrown grapevines will tax your harvest.

Pruning overgrown grapevines can actually help them produce more grapes. When they're overgrown, vines will produce more buds, leading to more grapes. Although more grapes may sound good in theory, too many will actually overwork the vine, and many of your grapes will not ripen. To keep your grapevines healthy, prune them when they begin to get overgrown. Before you set out to prune, learn about the proper way to cut back the vines without harming your grapes.

Things You'll Need

• Pruners

Instructions

1. Begin pruning in late March or early April. Cut away any vines that appear unhealthy first.

2. Cut back the trunk vine so it's about the same height as your trellis. Allow four arm vines to remain on the trunk vine. Let these four develop, but cut out all of the other arm vines.

3. Look at each arm vine and count the number of buds on each one. Cut away these buds, leaving about 50 total on all four vines. Choose buds that have one or two leaf joints. Leave some buds at the base of the trunk as well for next year's crop.

4. Prune back your grapevines hard each year to produce the best and sweetest grapes.

References

• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture: Grapes in Your Garden
• The Homesteader School; How to Prune Grapes; February 2011
• Pruning Grape Vines.net: Pruning Grape Vines: Art of Less Is More