Winter pruning of three-year-old grapevines

1. Pruning time

Pruning does not have to start as soon as winter begins. It can be done one month after the natural leaf fall in autumn, until 20 days before germination in the second year. This period of time is more suitable for pruning. If it is too early, the tree has not yet entered dormancy, and pruning at this time will cause damage to the tree. If it is too late, the tree is about to sprout, which will affect its later growth.

2. Pruning method

1. Prune the main vine: The main vine needs to be shortened to ensure its healthy growth. The densely grown branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, old branches and weak branches on the main vine should all be cut off so that nutrients can be concentrated on the main vine. This will ensure that the main branches will bear fruit in the later stage. However, when pruning, be careful not to make the incision too close to the main branch.

2. Fruiting mother vines: The pruning of these branches needs to be determined according to the specific situation, growth and thickness. If there are more high-quality buds, you can leave 8-12 buds before pruning. If there are fewer high-quality buds, only 3-5 buds, you need to keep 2-7 buds before pruning.

3. Other branches: For the other branches, the main principle is to keep the strong branches, cut off the weak branches, and remove the branches that are not growing well.