Page 46 - Grapevine March-April 2020

Around The Vineyard

Pruning Tips and Tricks to Ensure

Successful Growth By: Tracey L. Kelley
S cations vineyard managers can control, so ber one mistake I correct is the retention of small
pring pruning is one of the most vital appli-
wood, followed by the retention of too many buds
it’s always beneficial to cross-check your pro-
poor fruit quality and overall less balanced vines.
cesses with an expert or two. Depending on the air per vine. Both can result in an inefficient canopy,
temperatures in your region, you might be edging The good news is that it’s easier to take buds off
into budburst (also referred to as budbreak) right than to put them back on.”
now, and believe most of your pruning is complete.
Spur and Cane Pruning:
However, according to Fritz Westover, owner of Reasons for Each
Westover Vineyard Advising and Virtual Viticulture
Academy in Texas, there are always reasons to “Ideally, the decision to spur or cane prune should
examine the results of pruning not only at the start be made before designing and planting a vineyard,”
of the season but also throughout, to understand Westover said. “However, most varieties can adapt
what worked and what should be remedied. to either a cane- or spur-pruned system. Also, I’ve
found both vertical shoot positions or high-fruiting
“I do a lot of post-pruning site visits with growers, wire training systems can adapt to spur or cane
and it’s always informative to learn what you did pruning.”
wrong after you did it!” Westover joked. “The num-
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