| The moment you're done planting your vineyard | | | | growth of the roots. During early spring or winter, |
| in the best favorable area, the next step that you | | | | you should choose a sturdy shoot as the main |
| will need to take into great consideration is the | | | | trunk of your grapevine. Tie it to your grape trellis |
| correct pruning. Proper grape vine pruning is vital | | | | using a string. You should now eliminate all the |
| especially if you aim to grow the best grapes | | | | extra stems to promote growth for your main |
| possible. | | | | trunk. |
| Pruning is a continuing task. While your vineyard | | | | On your second year, your aim is to create the |
| exists, you have to continue pruning. And it is | | | | best side buds and guide them down the trellis. |
| important in taking the full advantage of the | | | | Then, you must remove all except for you two |
| quality and production of your grape fruits. | | | | strongest buds in late spring. This is to make sure |
| Reasons for Grapevine Pruning | | | | that all the growing energy is prioritized on their |
| There are reasons behind grape vine pruning. One | | | | growth. Secure the buds to the trellis for you to |
| of which is for the proper maintenance of the | | | | come up with a "T" shaped vine. During the mid |
| shape, size and output of the grapevines. Second, | | | | of summer, you must begin growing your second |
| young grapevines are usually pruned to initiate the | | | | "T" for your vines to be able to climb higher on |
| proper shaping down the trellis. And third, the | | | | your trellis. This time, you have to prune the area |
| moment your vines are in grape making, they | | | | above your trunk, just near your first "T". This will |
| must be pruned to achieve good quality grapes. | | | | promote trunk's growth and let it develop over |
| Grapevines will generate bunches of fruits | | | | the wire. |
| depending on its growth last year. Older vines will | | | | On late summer, choose the strongest buds |
| no longer generate grape therefore they must be | | | | above the wire and guide them down the trellis. |
| eliminated particularly if it is not a part of the | | | | During the second winter and on the next season |
| primary trunk or arms. Grapevines that are 3 | | | | prune all other growth that is not basically part of |
| years or older will generate two hundred or more | | | | your main trunk. On the third winter, you are |
| shoots which will later on develop into fruits. If all | | | | ready for your first production year. |
| of these are all that's left on the grapevines, they | | | | Yearly Grape Vine Pruning |
| will never ripe and will never sustain the enough | | | | Now your vines are already giving you production |
| growth for the production of the following years. | | | | every year, you must prune them early spring or |
| Pruning Young Grapevines | | | | every winter. On these seasons your vines are |
| On the first growing period, let the grapevine | | | | inactive. Your goal is to eliminate the canes that |
| grow without pruning. The objective of this is to | | | | already produced fruits as they won't be able to |
| create a sturdy root system that will keep firm | | | | produce fruit again. Moreover, you must also |
| growth in the coming years. Profuse growth of | | | | eliminate several buds so you will not produce |
| the stems and leaves will give energy for the | | | | grapes than the wine making industry can support. |