A beginner’s guide to grapevine pruning

Speaker: Nick Dry (Foundation Viticulture)
Webinar recorded: 2 June 2020
This webinar is aimed at those who have had limited operational experience in vineyards and are new to the concept of grapevine pruning. It will cover the following topics: vine structure, the equipment required for pruning, biosecurity and WHS considerations, and the basic methodology for pruning, focused on the two most common forms: cane pruning and spur pruning. The webinar will also explain the general principles for setting bud number per vine and will outline the concepts of grapevine vigour and capacity. Video demonstrations of basic pruning methods will be provided.

[@DerekLightfoot69]

Brilliant guide to pruning my long-abused/neglected Corvina vines in Verona, Italy. Many thanks!

[@faiqkhan7512]

Thank you Nick Dry, for your expertise and transfering information evey one of us. Its a brilliant guide to prune grape wine.

[@gregbooth1551]

Thank you Nick Dry, for your professionalism and expertise. I love how you handled all the questions, some of which were not easy to answer. Hats off :-)

[@ZH-Rocks]

Very nicely explained.thx.

[@free.breaker]

Cheers!

[@darwinferrera8042]

Thank you

[@henedinobanzuela2683]

Thanks for the information continue the good work

[@LiverSensible]

Excellent basics

[@allanpennington]

Is there a webinar or YT vid on summer pruning. Eg. managing laterals, topping the growth, when, how tall etc.

[@frankdeblieck7478]

Hello Michael and Nick, I've started growing grapes 3 years ago and tried to run as goos as possible.Last year I had a good yield of grapes. this year I have even more grapes but what do I do to get te biggest and ripest grapes. shoots are being removed and the canes are Topped off. But I've read somewhere that I have to trim of the lower leaves to let the sun shine in and leave the upper half with all of it's leaves because they provide the sugar for the grapes. I would sincerely appreciate your view on this to minimize mistakes. Thanks a lot and congratulations with this great video!!! Frank (Belgium Europe, yes our climate is becoming great for wine builders)

[@quagmirewarrior4202]

14:27 starts the Cane Pruning...

[@quagmirewarrior4202]

I need to get a holster for my snips, then I'll be unstoppable.

[@camhorner]

should make angled cuts so water doesn't sit and may cause rot :)

[@user-xt2nu7nq1y]

In May I have a lot of young spouts at ground level. Do I prune them?

[@user-jy3yk6dw1x]

Good job! I have a question, Why do you clean your boots and scizors before enter to the vineyard ?

[@sebdaley6297]

to ensure no spread of disease and pathogens

[@camhorner]

boots = phylloxera. i'm surprised more vineyard esp. tasmania don;t have cleaning solution for shoes. as for secateurs ... i think it's over the top. i've worked in vineyards that alcohol clear their snips in same vineyard but different block (variety). some donn't care. don't ask. if they're clean vienyard to vineyard.

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

How long should one grow their cordon main vine? Is 10 feet too long each direction?

[@camhorner]

cordon is usually 8-12 buds. 10 feet is VERY LONG!. this is for a standard case scenario of 4 vines per 6 meter panel. but even if home grower; 8-12 buds. this would equate to a 3 foot cordon

[@RhondaGolding]

I am in Warrnambool, I have 2 vines, 1-4 year old never fruits and 1-3 year old which has fruited twice now, never touched for pruning so where do I start, it is spreading every where, no training done, just going up a pole, please help. ( not for wine, just for eating )

[@vineyardcrew7561]

Hello, from Shinn Estate Vineyards. what is the name of you put on it does not get infested.

[@reenegovender2167]

Excellent thank you for the knowledge

[@athelstanvongomez1502]

Rodolfo Gomez for a newly planted grape vine how many months you are going to prune it ty from the philipines

[@camhorner]

phillipines! damn. tropical grapes ... would they have a chance to go dormant?? some fruits need dormancy to achieve fruiting ... unless there are nnative grapes to phillipines?? process: years 1-2:. prune back to two buds - establish root system. year 3: allow main cane to grow. winter: remove top and bottom buds; leaving 4 in centre. year 4: those 4 buds should become 2 spurs and 2 canes. the 2 canes will be tied down. and the 2 spurs will be recovery in case a cordon cane breaks or dies - saves the vine. the spurs will also produce the fruiting canes for year 5 - replacing year 4 canes that are tied down.

[@lindaregan4770]

I really hate long winded people make it short and straight to the point

[@jeffmeyers3837]

So then how do you fix the spur height getting to high and the vine losing its structure? Nick mentioned this at 11:49 but did not explain the solution. Seems to me since last year's canes become this year's spurs, the spur height gradually climbs every year. Then what?

[@patrickkuffour]

im still learning myself but you have to find or leave a new growth at the bottom of the spur, then you can cut the one thats high and keep the one at the bottom, this becomes your new spur, always cut the lowest cane or new growth. not sure if this makes any sense, i was having the same issue at first.

[@TheAWRI]

Hi @jeffmeyers3837 - As Nick mentions at 11.38, where possible, you want to select the lowest positioned cane out of the two canes that grew from last year’s spur (provided the cane isn’t weak or damaged) as this will help delay the height increase. Though in saying this, it’s natural the vine may grow a little bit taller each year, however, it would take a long time for the vine to grow so much in height it becomes unmanageable. Additionally, the pruner will have the option in some circumstances to use water shoots as new spur positions. Water shoots arise from dormant buds on wood that’s older than 1 year and can push out from other areas of the cordon that aren’t already established spurs. Generally, these shoots are less fruitful and are removed at pruning unless required to provide replacement fruiting wood. You’ll just need to be a bit opportunistic when this occurs