Pruning your vines is not something that should be neglected and needs to be done every year. Grape pruning is essential for healthy and productive vines. Vines only produce their grapes from old shoots which have grown from the canes that were planted a year before. It stands to reason, then, that one year after planting you need to do your first pruning.
Before you begin grape pruning however, it is necessary that you take some time to become familiar with the basic structure of the vines so that you will be able to prune them properly and correctly. First of all, the main stem is called the trunk. If the vines are two years and older you will be able to see what many would call stems extending from the trunk. These stems are called arms. Canes, as mentioned above are new shoots that are a year old. It is from these year old canes that the grapes will be produced. The part of the trunk that produces both the arms as well as the cane is called the head. It is important for you to cut back the canes by cutting until only one or two spurs (or buds) remain as this is essential to healthy vines.
The reason why grape pruning is necessary is because it effectively stimulates the vine to bear more grapes. During the first year it is important that the vine be allowed to grow in whichever way it wants to, because this means that a strong and healthy root system develops. Once the vine is a year old the pruning can begin. You can start by choosing a stem that appears to be the strongest. Then, using bypass pruners, you will need to cut off all the other stems as near to the trunk as you can. Thereafter you will need to stake the trunk you selected along a trellis using a piece of string.
Ideally you should end up with a trunk with branches growing on each side so that the plant is balanced. This should not take long, because vines grow all year long. Therefore, to achieve that desired result pruning needs to be done often. Once your new grapevine trunk has grown to a height that you want it, it is time for you to prune the tip. By doing this you will ensure that fresh, new shoots will grow on the body of the trunk. Being persistent and careful with your grape pruning will produce positive results.
In the third winter after you planted the vines you need to leave at least one dozen buds on each of the vines arms. Failing to do this will mean that the vine will not be productive and so, to ensure productivity, those twelve buds need to be left undisturbed on the arms. You also need to be sure to allow at least two leaf joints on each of the twelve spurs, i.e. buds. In order for your vines to be healthy and to produce healthy and good quality grapes it cannot be stressed enough just how important proper grape pruning is to the vine.
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