Instructions for pruning grapes for the winter for beginners

For a beginner who has just set foot on the difficult path of growing his grapes, the obligatory pruning of the vine inspires sacred horror. However, careful theoretical training dispels fears. Pruning grapes in the fall is a fairly simple procedure if the summer resident knows which shoots need to be left, and which ones to trim and how to do it correctly.

The main rules for pruning vines in the fall

1. The first season after planting for young grapes is the period of the formation of the root system and the growth of green mass. You cannot touch the shoots, unless they tie them to a support if they lean strongly to the ground.
2. The annual pruning of the vine involves two stages. In autumn, two-thirds of the volume of shoots planned for cutting are removed, leaving the final formation of a fruiting plant in the spring. Spring pruning with the removal of frozen and weak parts is the second stage.
3. Vine growth is regularly regulated from the first year. If the grapes are left to develop on their own, the yield will leave much to be desired for all subsequent years.

The purpose of pruning grapes in autumn is to balance the number of fruiting branches and the volume of the root system. If this balance is disturbed, the berries become smaller, yield decreases, and frost resistance decreases.

Very sharp pruners are used to trim the grapes. Experts advise using a Soviet-made tool made of high quality steel, from modern - Dutch or German.

The shape of the grape bush is given in the fall, since this period is characterized by a slowdown in the movement of juices - the fertile plant gradually plunges into hibernation. Active spring sap flow leads to the fact that the vine runs out with sap, which is why it does not receive moisture and nutrients.

Autumn pruning is also important in that it is one of the mandatory measures for preparing the vine for winter.

General algorithm for autumn grape pruning

Pruning is carried out one and a half to two weeks after harvest. By this time, the vine will have time to recover a little after fruiting, a significant part of the leaves will fall off, which will facilitate the work. It is important that the air temperature is above -3 ° C.

At the same time, the general rules are observed:

• branches are cut to "live" wood - cut is light green;
• the cut is placed 1-2 cm above the kidney, it is directed inward.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. remove mustaches, stepsons, the remains of leaves.
2. cut out immature, not ready for winter shoots, as well as thin (less than 5 mm), broken, with signs of disease and pest-affected twigs;
3. then cut off the arrows that gave the crop in the current year;
4. remove the shoots of the current year, coming from the trunk or grown from the soil;
5. cut off productive branches. Depending on the growth rate of the vine and the thickness of the fruiting branches, it is determined how many buds to leave on the branches when pruning.

Before pruning the vines, the degree of load of fruit arrows in the past season is assessed: short internodes indicate an overload of the vine, in this case, when pruning, they leave a couple of eyes less than last year.

Features of pruning covering grapes

The heat-loving vine is successfully grown in the middle lane and the Moscow region, choosing early-ripening varieties and covering the plant for the winter.Consider simple and reliable ways to prune cover grapes without problems.

Guyot-free pruning

The technique involves the formation of a fruit vine and a replacement knot. Technologically simple, it is great for beginner winegrowers.

1. In the fall of the first year, the shoots of the growth are cut into 2-3 eyes. The procedure stimulates the formation of fruit buds.
2. In the fall of the second year, 2 strong new shoots are chosen. One is cut off, leaving 2-3 eyes, - a replacement knot. A second shoot next season will yield the first crop. The next year, new shoots will form from the eyes of the replacement knot, one of which will be a replacement, from the other a fruit vine will be formed.
3. In the fall of the third year, the shoots that gave the first grape clusters are cut out. The vine is shortened by a replacement knot. Two escapes remain.
4. From the fall of the fourth year, they maintain the shape of a bush.

Fruit vines, formed by the Guyot method, are placed horizontally on the trellis.

Fan clipping

The technique works well not only in the middle lane, but also in more difficult conditions for growing grapes. According to the technique, from 3 to 8 fruit branches are formed, placed vertically. The number of lashes and their length depend on the region of cultivation, the method of winter shelter and on the load on the bush.

Fan trimming algorithm:

1. The first and second years are pruned using the Guyot scheme.
2. In the third year, long sleeves are formed from two shoots. Each sleeve consists of two strands. In the fall, a replacement knot and a fertile vine are formed on each arm. All unripe lashes are cut out. Modern grape varieties bred over the past 10-15 years are pruned with a “comb” - all shoots are shortened to 3-4 eyes without replacement knots.
3. In the fourth year, four sleeves are received, on each of which a pair can be formed: a replacement knot and a vine.

Pruning grapes is carried out at least two weeks before the shelter for the winter. This time is necessary so that the sections dry out and tighten and pathogens do not penetrate them.

Formed by the Guyot method or fan pruning, grape bushes can be simply hidden under a winter shelter. The methods combine the compactness of the plant and good yield. It is also convenient that the grapes are easy to care for and regulate their load.

Pruning uncovered grapes

In the south of Russia - near the Lower Volga, in the North Caucasus (except for mountainous and foothill regions) - grapes are grown in an uncovered way. At the same time, the method of pruning and forming a grape bush is determined only by the characteristics of the site where the vine grows, and the fantasy of the summer resident. Forming methods are varied: from the methods described above to boles and cordons of various heights.

Algorithm for the formation of a trunk:

1. In the spring of the first year after planting, a couple of strong shoots are chosen, the rest are cut out. One shoot is "designated" as the main one, it is pinched, the second - as a reserve one. In the fall, the stem is shortened to the desired height.
2. In the fall of the second year, the shoulders of the cordon are formed. Two strong shoots are chosen from the growth, the rest are cut out. The rest are cut into 2 kidneys, that is, they receive shoulders. At their height, the first level of the wire is pulled, where the shoots are fixed.
3. In the fall of the third year, a fruit link is created - a replacement knot and an arrow (a fruitful vine).
4. In the fourth autumn, the grown shoulders are trimmed in accordance with the varietal characteristics. Branches are left on the shoulders with an interval of at least 20 cm. The rest of the growth is cut out.
5. In the fall of the fifth year, a simple pruning is done, shortening all the lashes by 2-3 eyes.
6. The sixth autumn completes the formation process. Ripe lashes are cut off, a replacement knot is formed and a fruitful vine of 6-7 buds is formed.

Further, the pruning of the 6th year is repeated annually, that is, the fruiting shoots are removed, a new vine and a replacement knot are formed.

For the formation of a grape bush of any shape, choose only healthy shoots not damaged by pests with a thickness of at least 5 mm.

Regional pruning features

The climate of the growing region not only determines the timing of the autumn pruning of the vine - there are also a number of local nuances that must be taken into account.

In Crimea

Three agrarian zones are distinguished in Crimea: steppe, foothill and subtropical.

For the steppe and foothills, where covering grapes are grown, formative pruning is characteristic, carried out in 2 stages:

1. autumn - preliminary pruning before the shelter, combined with harvesting cuttings;
2. spring - the final formation of the overwintered vine.

At the preliminary, autumn, stage, 3 or 4 shoots are left for each arm of a grape bush in order to leave two that survived the winter without loss in the spring.

In the subtropical south of the peninsula, full-fledged pruning is carried out in the fall, and in areas where spring return frosts are not uncommon, shoots are cut off with a margin - either a greater number of them are left, or the number of eyes is increased by 2-3 pieces.

In the Krasnodar Territory

In the Kuban, nature itself has created ideal conditions for growing grapes of various varieties without shelter. However, it also has its own territorial features.

In the subtropics of the Krasnodar Territory, grapes are pruned almost throughout the winter period, since frosts in these places are very rare.

The northern regions of the region, where winter frosts and spring frosts are common, autumn pruning is done in October or transferred to the end of winter, but before the buds swell. This practice is due to the fact that uncut shoots are easier to tolerate frost.

In the middle lane

In a fairly cold climate, winter-hardy early and mid-season varieties are grown. The protracted autumn characteristic of the Moscow region allows for autumn pruning in two steps:

1. when harvesting, weak and diseased shoots are cut out and young lashes are pinched;
2. at the end of leaf fall, in September, complete formative pruning is carried out.

In a continental climate

In the Urals and Siberia, where winter-hardy varieties of early and medium ripening are grown, the vine is not cut either in the first or second fall. The formation of a powerful root system with a short summer is slower, and the shoots are also in no hurry with growth. Therefore, the first pruning is performed when one or two shoots grow to a meter in length - in the fall of the 3rd or 4th year.

For continental climates, fan pruning is recommended, forming four arms with a fruiting zone and a replacement knot.

Features of pruning some varieties

Isabella, popular in private farmsteads, is a frost-resistant variety. Pruning is difficult, because it is unable to quickly heal wounds. Therefore, the shoots are not cut to the ground, but small hemp is left.

Aleshenkin grapes are cut into 8-10 eyes, less often - by 5-6. The variety is distinguished by a high yield, therefore normalization is especially important for it - assessment and regulation of the load on the root system.

A fan-trellis shape is recommended for growing Lydia grapes. The maximum number of shoots does not exceed 12, each cut into 7-8 eyes.

The grapes of the Kish-mish variety series are pruned, leaving 8-12 eyes. At the same time, the load is strictly normalized: no more than 2 brushes on each arrow.

Also, the Arcadia variety is cut for 8-12 eyes. The number of fruiting shoots is regulated so that there are 35-45 eyes on the bush in total.

How to prune neglected grapes?

If a vine is skipped at least one autumn pruning, it will overgrow with a large number of young shoots. The longer you do not take care of the bush, the more unmanaged branches there will be. Often they do not undertake to put in order such a plant, considering it a futile business. It is believed that it is easier to cut it at the root, allowing the root system to form new shoots.

However, there is a fairly simple technique for pruning grapes, which allows for 1 year from a neglected old plant to form a normal healthy bush that gives a good harvest.Work begins in the spring.

1. A ripe living vine is identified: its bark is brown to brown, its eyes are elastic, shiny. The vine is elastic, does not break when bent. The color of the cut wood is green.
2. The dead parts are cut out - shoots and sections of the vine. Sleeves on which there are no annual shoots, as well as gnarled or expelled, are removed. Young shoots are thinned out.
3. With their left hand they grasp the sleeve and move along it, carefully studying the branches that meet. Dry and sick lashes are cut out. The first live shoot encountered with a thickness of 5 mm with healthy eyes is cut into 2-3 eyes - a replacement knot is formed. The next full-fledged shoot is left on the arrow, cutting it off by 8-10 buds.
4. Repeating the steps, they reach the end of the sleeve. The following is processed similarly. Short thick shoots with several eyes (up to 5 pcs.) Are left at the rate of 4 shoots for each square meter of the trellis.
5. After processing all the sleeves, the number of fruit shoots is counted, taking 4 short shoots as one. The optimal number of shoots is 2-3 pcs / m².
6. During the summer, young shoots, “shooting” directly from the wood, are broken out without regret, since it will weaken the vine and prevent fruit shoots from ripening.
7. In the fall, after removing unripe, thin and weak shoots, the formation of a neglected grape bush is completed according to one of the schemes described above.

Grapes are a difficult culture to grow. He needs constant quality care. We hope these tips will be helpful in preparing and covering the vines for the winter. Pruning a vineyard in the fall, carried out correctly and in a timely manner, is a guarantee of its health and a good harvest of tasty and healthy berries.