Winter pruning of grapevines - good tools make the job easy

Winter pruning of grapevines is an important task in winter management of grapevines. The main purpose is to remove old, sick, crossed and overlapping branches to promote growth and increase yield in the next year. Winter pruning is usually carried out during the dormant period of grapevines, that is, after leaf fall and before spring buds sprout.

1. Pruning goals

Remove sick and weak branches: Prune dead, sick or damaged branches to avoid affecting the healthy growth of grapevines.

Adjust the tree shape: Keep ventilation and light, prune overcrowded branches, and ensure uniform light.

Update fruiting branches: Remove aging or overly dense fruiting branches to promote the growth of new branches to increase yield.

2. Pruning steps

Clear dead and diseased branches: First, cut off all dead and diseased branches.

Prune the main trunk and main branches: Prune the main trunk according to the growth of the grapevine and remove branches that are too long or not conducive to growth.

Keep suitable fruiting branches: Select some healthy and well-positioned branches as fruiting branches for the next year, usually keeping 2-3 thicker branches.

Short pruning: Shorten the branches that grew last year to encourage new buds to sprout and ensure that more grapevines can bear fruit next year.

3. Precautions

Pruning tools: Use sharp pruning shears or loppers to ensure smooth cuts and avoid damaging the plants.

Cutting angle: Keep a certain angle when cutting to avoid water accumulation at the cut and causing rot.

Timely pruning: Winter pruning is best done in the cold season to ensure that the grapevines are in a dormant period and avoid pruning too early or too late.

4. Post-pruning management

Apply the cut: For large cuts, you can apply a special tree pruning cream to help the wound heal and reduce the risk of bacterial infection.

Fertilization and mulching: After pruning, you can apply some organic fertilizer to help the grapevines resume growth, and cover with some mulch to prevent cold and moisturize.