How to Prune Grape Vines for Winter

First Year Pruning

• 1

  Find the strongest branch on your one year old grape vine. You will make this the trunk of the grape vine.

• 2

  Cut all of the stems--other than the main trunk--at the bottom of the plant, using pruning shears.

• 3

  Cut all of the stems from the main branch. Cut each stem as close as possible to the trunk without cutting the trunk.

• 4

  Tie the main trunk to a grape stake.

Second Year Pruning

• 5

  Wait until spring and cut away growth from the first winter. Leave only the two strongest branches growing from the trunk.

• 6

  Trim the top of the grape vine to the desired height.

• 7

  Continue to prune the vine during the spring and winter of year two. Cut every branch except the main trunk and the two branches.

• 8

  Examine the grape vine in the winter of year three. The two branches will be growing buds. Clip any branch growth off of the two branches, leaving the buds.

• 9

  Allow your grapevine to grow throughout the summers after winter three. Continue to clip away new growth from the two branches during the winter.