How to Prune Unruly Vines on a Grapevine

Remove all the canes that have borne fruit, cutting them back to the main branch. These canes have stems that previously bore fruit, and the bark is often dark gray or peeling. Prune grapevines in late winter before new growth emerges. Pruning grapevines while they are actively growing can damage the buds, reducing later canes and fruit.

Cut out old or diseased canes and canes that grow vertically or rub against each other. Also prune out young canes that are smaller than a pencil or were hidden under dense foliage. These canes won't mature enough to produce fruit during the coming season and divert energy away from large, healthy canes.

Look at the healthy, young canes remaining. The end goal is to have a main branch with two or three sets of lateral branches extending like arms from the main trunk. From these lateral branches grow the canes that produce fruit. Remove canes until the grapevine fits this description. Leave two or three healthy canes on each lateral branch.

Repeat this process over the next two or three years until the grapevine begins producing fruit again. Thereafter, remove old canes each year that have produced fruit and cut the new canes back to 10 or 15 buds, depending on the grape vine type.