When grapevines are young, they are guided-or trained-into any number of desired shapes, sometimes emphasizing aesthetics, such as covering an arbor, but most often to promote efficient fruit production. Cross sections of (left) healthy and (right) dead canes. If it is brown and dry, the cane is dead (Photo 2). The cross-section of a healthy cane will have a green circle of living tissue. The health of a cane may be determined by pruning the cane and examining the cross section of the cane at the pruning cut. The difference should be readily apparent. Cut open a few healthy buds from canes that will be pruned off and compare those to the buds you think might have been injured by the cold. When a healthy bud is sliced open, it will appear green inside, while dead or injured buds will be brown, black or very dull green. The buds, located at each swollen node, may be mushy or shriveled. Damaged canes often appear darker and look less healthy. It is a good idea to check the canes and buds for winter damage before pruning. Although the vines will bleed sap after pruning, this sap loss is not harmful to the plant. If it has been a very cold winter and heavy winter damage to the vines and buds is likely, grapevines may be pruned after bud break, making it easy to select from canes that are producing healthy, new shoots. Pruned vines break dormancy earlier, making them susceptible to freeze injury. When to prune?Īlthough grapes may be pruned any time during winter dormancy, it is best to wait until the risk of spring freezes has passed. This alternate bearing results from the stress and demands of carrying large crop loads, and both vigor and fruit quality may be reduced. After several years, an irregular pattern may set in for some grape varieties, with large crops one year followed by small crops the next. Left unpruned, grapevines may have high yields of fruit, but the grapes will be smaller and of lower quality. Why prune?Īnnual pruning is important for the health and productivity of grapevines. Here are the steps to take to tame overgrown grapevines, restoring health and productivity through proper pruning. Neglected vines can quickly outgrow their space and supports, leaving home gardeners struggling with how to proceed. Although not difficult to grow, grapes do require some annual maintenance to ensure consistent harvests of high quality fruit. Grapes have long been esteemed for the beauty of their vines and the complex flavors of their fruit and wine (Photo 1).
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