First things first: It is important to understand that a grape vine only produce grapes in canes and spurs for one year. Older parts of the vine will not produce grapes.

In other words, pruning a grape vine the wrong way, or removing the wrong wood from a grape vine, will result in lower yields and even total crop loss. This article on how to prune grapes will show you some basic tips on how to prune a grape vine the right way, to ensure that your vines produce enough grapes for you and your family to enjoy.

During the vine’s dormant season (usually winter), the shoots of the previous year’s growth turn dark brown; winegrowers speak of the “ripening of the wood”. Grape vines are pruned in early spring, after chances of frost damage have passed. It is important not to prune the grapes too soon, as pruning the vine will encourage new growth and if new shoots develop too early, the chances of frost damage are much higher. After you’ve looked at the history of frost occurrence in your area, you’ll have a good idea of ​​when it’s the right time to prune.

Before you prune your vine, you need to understand the difference between a spur pruning and a cane pruning on grapes. Spur pruning is when the cane is pruned to 2 to 4 buds and cane pruning is when a cane is pruned to 8 to 12 buds long. This article covers the most commonly used method of pruning grapes: spur pruning.

A spur that was pruned during the previous pruning season (last winter, while the vine was dormant) will develop new shoots from 3 to 4 buds. These two shoots will be the fruits during this year’s harvest.

If you understand what I’m explaining to you, it will make sense that the stimulus in this dormant season becomes an old stimulus next year, and during the dormancy, after next year’s growing season, and so the process will go on and on. . In other words, a shoot that will develop to a spur pruned during dormancy will become the next year’s spur.