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Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) are native to southern North America and have been cultivated since colonial times. For owners of these wonderful fruits, knowing how to prune muscadine grapevines properly is a must. Without proper pruning, muscadines are doomed to become tangled masses of woody vines bearing little or no fruit. Old wood must be cut away to make room for new growth, as it is new growth that produces fruit. Vines with too much old wood will not bloom and bear fruit. Those with too much growth will not produce well either. Therefore, pruning muscadine grapes not only controls growth, but also increases the productivity of the plant.
Before you can discuss how to prune muscadine grapevines, its important to understand the vines natural growth and the framework that should be imposed upon it. The vine framework is comprised of the trunk and two or four permanent cordons (arms) and fruiting spurs. Pruning muscadine grapevines each dormant season maintains this basic form. New shoots — those grown in the current season — are the ones that bear fruit. These new shoots, however, rise from last seasons growth and a balance must be struck when pruning. Grapevines, old or young, benefit from late winter or early spring pruning. The same process for pruning muscadine grapevines is used regardless of the type of trellis they are trained to. Whats important is to begin properly and avoid problems later on.
Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) are a popular fruit crop in the southeastern United States. These hearty vines produce large, thick-skinned grapes that are used for jams, jellies, juice, and wine. Proper pruning is essential for the health and productivity of muscadine vines. But when is the best time to cut back muscadine vines?
Understanding Muscadine Vine Growth
Muscadines have a different growth habit than other grape varieties. The vines produce fruit on young shoots from the previous season’s growth. Each year, new shoots sprout from one-year-old wood. The vines need a balance between vegetative growth and fruit production. Too much vegetation means little fruit while overcropping stresses the vine.
Muscadines form a framework of a trunk with two or four permanent cordons or arms. Fruiting spurs grow off of these cordons. Over time, the arms become crowded with spur clusters. Heavy pruning removes excess spurs and stimulates new growth.
Traditional Pruning Time
For decades, muscadine growers pruned their vines in late fall to early winter after the leaves dropped The belief was that pruning triggered growth, so vines should be cut back when fully dormant Pruning from Thanksgiving through January was standard practice.
However, research in the 1980s showed that pruned vines are more vulnerable to cold damage. Vines pruned in December suffered more winter injury than those left unpruned until February. Now, most growers delay pruning until late winter.
Modern Pruning Guidelines
Today, the recommended pruning window for muscadines is February through early March. At this point, the worst of the winter cold is past but vines are still fully dormant.
Benefits of late winter pruning:
- Avoids cold damage to freshly cut wood
- Allows time for pruning wounds to begin healing before spring growth starts
- Vines pruned earlier may bleed more sap
Bleeding from pruning cuts is not harmful to vines. But it indicates the plant is not fully dormant and more vulnerable to freezing.
Some growers in warmer regions start pruning in January. But it’s best to wait until February or early March over most of the muscadine production area.
Step-by-Step Pruning Process
Here are the key steps to pruning muscadine vines in late winter:
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Start by identifying one-year-old wood. This growth has smooth green bark compared to the shaggy brown bark of older canes.
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Remove excessive vegetation. Cut back lateral shoots to just two or four buds to form spurs. This balances growth and fruiting.
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Thin overloaded spur clusters. Remove whole clusters or cut extra shoots to rejuvenate old spurs.
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Check for girdling. Remove tendrils coiled tightly around cordons which can eventually strangle the vine.
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Clean up when finished. Discard pruned canes and clear old leaves and fruits from under vines to prevent disease carryover.
Signs It’s Time to Prune
How do you know when your muscadine vines are due for pruning? Watch for these signs:
- Lots of long, flexible shoots with green bark (one-year-old wood)
- Thick tangles of old shaggy-barked canes (two-year-old wood)
- Spur clusters extending up to two feet from the cordon
- Reduced fruit production compared to previous years
- Small grape clusters instead of full sized fruit
Special Cases
While late winter is ideal for most pruning, certain situations call for pruning at other times:
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Train young vines in the summer by pinching off lateral shoots to establish the trunk and cordons.
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Rejuvenate neglected vines by cutting back a portion of the canopy each year over 2-3 years.
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Repair winter damage by cutting back dead portions in early spring and retraining new shoots.
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Control excess growth by summer pruning of unwanted shoots in early to midsummer.
Pruning is vital for productive muscadine vines. Follow these tips for great results:
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Wait to prune until vines are fully dormant in late winter, generally February to early March.
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Remove excess one-year-old wood, leaving two to four-bud spurs.
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Thin overloaded spur clusters to rejuvenate them.
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Clean up and dispose of pruned canes to improve vine health.
With proper annual pruning and care, muscadine vines can remain productive for decades. Timely pruning encourages the new growth necessary for a bountiful grape harvest.
Pruning Muscadine Grapes to Trellis Framework
For new vines, pruning begins as soon as the root is planted and continues through the first two growing seasons. Cut the trunk stem back to two or four buds. Tie the trunk above or between the buds to the trellis wire. As the trunk grows, clip out the side shoots that develop, but leave the leaf growth along the trunk alone. Repeat the side shoot trimming throughout the summer. Over the first and second growing season, keep pruning away at unwanted growth until the trunk is taller than the wire. Now is the time to prune the terminal (topmost) buds back to wire height and let the new topmost buds develop into the cordons. Trim back lateral (side) growth on the cordons to one foot (0.5 m.) lengths to encourage rapid growth and development. From here on in, trimming muscadine vines will be a dormant season chore.
Pruning Muscadines
FAQ
What happens if you don’t prune muscadine vines?
Mature vines left unpruned can become a tangled mess of unproductive wood. Pruning is the key to maintaining healthy wood that will produce fruit.Feb 12, 2025
What month should you prune grape vines?
Grape plants are vigorous, and forgiving.
With that said, you can approach your pruning in a spirit of learning and adventure, not panic. Grapes are best pruned in spring (February/March, or even as late as early April) because if pruned too early a hard frost in late winter can damage the canes and buds.
When to prune muscadine vines in Alabama?
Unpruned vineyards may bear alternately, are nearly impossible to harvest, and are also more vulnerable to pest attacks because of reduced spray coverage and poor air movement within the canopy. The ideal time to prune muscadines is mid to late February.
When should you prune muscadine vines?
️ Signs to prune include overcrowding, dead wood, and reduced fruit production. The ideal time to prune your muscadine vines is late winter to early spring. This timing ensures you cut back before new growth begins, allowing the plant to focus its energy on fresh shoots. Consider your local climate when planning your pruning schedule.
How to prune muscadine grapevines?
Before you can discuss how to prune muscadine grapevines, it’s important to understand the vine’s natural growth and the framework that should be imposed upon it. The vine framework is comprised of the trunk and two or four permanent cordons (arms) and fruiting spurs. Pruning muscadine grapevines each dormant season maintains this basic form.
Can muscadine vines be cut back?
You can start from scratch and cut the vine all the way back to the original trunk with drastic pruning. Muscadine grapevines are tough and most will survive the shock. However, to keep the vines producing while you bring the plant back under control, you might consider pruning only one side of the trunk or one cordon at a time.
Do muscadine grapes bleed if pruned too late?
Keep in mind that the vines will drip sap or “bleed” if pruned too late but this does not harm the plant. Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) are native to the Carolinas, making them a relatively low-maintenance fruit. Once gardeners know that they need to prune the vines their next question is how.
Why do muscadines need to be pruned?
Pruning is a method of shaping and controlling the growth of muscadine vines. It is important to prune muscadines because it helps to promote fruiting, improves air circulation and sunlight penetration to the center of the plant, and helps to keep the plant healthy. There are a few things to keep in mind when pruning muscadines.
What if muscadine vine is overgrown?
If the vine is overgrown, cut it back gradually over a couple of years. Importance of Pruning: This helps increase yield and control diseases. Healthy vines produce more muscadine grapes.