Pruning grapes for the winter

Pruning grapes is not an easy process, especially for novice summer residents. It is held in spring and / or autumn. In the latter case, the bush is closed for the winter to protect it from freezing. By the way, disputes about when to do it more correctly are still ongoing among gardeners. And yet, many experts assure that it is better to abandon the procedure in the spring, but in the fall it is really needed.

Pruning grapes is not necessary for any clear reason, it has a complex basis. By pruning, you can influence the physiological changes in the plant. This is mainly the effect on growth hormone, as well as on those active substances that are involved in plant reproduction, seed formation, and harvest in the future.

What pruning is for:

• inhibits vegetative growth;
• helps to activate generative tissues;
• contributes to the regulation of water consumption by the plant;
• helps to regulate the balance of the aboveground and underground mass of the bush.

Correctness lies, first of all, in a convenient time, chosen for pruning.... The shoots should have already completed development, a bright brown crust is formed on them. The leaves should already be clothed in autumn color (at least such changes are desirable). If at least some of the leaves are already on the ground, it is good for pruning. Finally, the established air temperature is important - if it is at +5 degrees and below, it's time to cut the bushes.

Of course, it should be comfortable not only for the grapes, which will only benefit from these manipulations, but also for the person who produces them. If you prune in frost, your hands will freeze - you need to work with gloves, even if the temperature is still above zero.

The question, why is it better to prune in the fall, has already been raised above: interventions in the physiology and biochemistry of the plant at this stage fully pay off. But during spring pruning, which many gardeners still adhere to, delicate buds can break off. They barely start to grow, but they are already carelessly removed.

To understand what exactly to cut and not damage the plant, you need to clearly know the names of its parts and their relationship.

What the bush consists of:

• the heel is the base of the trunk, which is underground, roots grow from the heel;
• stem - this is the name of the stem part, starting from the first ready shoot, it is in the grapes that there is some fragment of the stem under the ground;
• head - this means an increase on the main stem with lateral shoots;
• sleeves (sometimes they say - shoulders) - this is the name of the lateral shoots that extend from the main stem;
• fruit arrow - a long-cut sleeve, a dozen buds are left on it after trimming;
• the replacement knot is already a short sleeve, after trimming, 2-4 eyes remain on it;
• the fruit link is a pair of shoots, which consists of a replacement knot and a fruit arrow.

It is logical that one should focus on the word “cut off” and work with these positions. The peculiarity is that the pruning algorithm will be different for different bushes. It depends on the age of the plant.

In this case, it is considered technology expert Bezyaev A. P., great authority for many winegrowers.

A seedling that was planted only last spring, and from which 2 shoots have already grown, must be cut so that 4 buds remain on each shoot. In the spring, when they all bloom, only the upper 2 will be left, and the lower ones will be removed. Of course, such a scenario is possible only if all 4 kidneys are well preserved.

It is not enough to cut off the grapes, it is important to cover it correctly later.... One-year-olds, according to Bezyaev, are proposed to be sheltered like this: you need to bring enough pine needles from the forest, sprinkle the surface of the tree's root with it, lay a piece of cellophane next, and throw some earth at the corners so that the film does not fly away. A very simple but effective cover is obtained.

The author also notes that he sprinkles both annual and perennial bushes with a solution of copper sulfate, which helps to avoid the attack of pathogens.

A grown seedling will give 4 shoots on each vine during the summer. But 2 lower kidneys (this was already noted above) are proposed to be removed in the spring. From the remaining buds, 2 shoots will develop on each vine. And the author suggests removing all the stepchildren, as well as the leaves that will appear on these vines over the summer. From the head of the bush - 20, maximum 30 cm. This way you can get closer to the formation of the sleeves of the bush.

The upper stepsons and leaves do not need to be disturbed, let them grow as they grow. But in the fall, before covering the grapes for the cold season, you need to go through a complete pruning of the bushes. From the two vines that have formed on each main vine (you can already safely call these parts sleeves), 2 fruit links are created.

It's easy to do this:

• one sleeve is taken, the upper vine is cut into 4 buds (this is a fruit vine);
• the lower vine is pruned into 2-3 buds, and it becomes a replacement knot.

So, in 2 steps, you can create a fruit link with a fruit vine and a replacement knot. On the second sleeve, the actions will be similar.

In the third year, events develop as follows: 2 main vines need to be tied parallel to the ground, somewhere 30 cm from the plane. This is necessary to train the sleeves to the horizontal. The step is useful both from the point of view of the subsequent shelter for the winter, and in terms of the beneficial growth of the leaf mass. Also, this action has a beneficial effect on the processes of photosynthesis in the bush, on the functioning of the root system. If bunches appear on fruit vines, the expert suggests leaving only one on each arm. The rest must be removed.

Features of autumn pruning of three-year-old plants.

1. Each vine will grow 4 fruit shoots, 2 will grow on a replacement knot. In the final pruning, you can make it so that in the end there are 2 replacement knots and 2 fruit vines on the bush.
2. On the replacement knot, 2 vines grow, the lower one is cut into 2 buds, the upper one - by 6. This will be one fruit link.
3. The fruit vine is cut so that only a part with 2 shoots remains - a second fruit link will be formed from it.
4. The lower vine is cut into a replacement knot, into 2 buds, the upper one - into 5-6 buds. Thus, there will be 2 fruit links on two sleeves.

As a result: 4 fruit links, each vine has about 5 buds, and there are 20 of them in total. Of these, a couple of dozen fruit vines will grow next year. After the pruning is completed, the remaining vines will have to be tied into fascines and covered in the usual way.

Beginners are often lost if pruning has to be done on a gazebo. First you need to understand the scale of the work: It is one thing if the roof of the gazebo is formed by a vine, another if it is covered with building materials. If it's a vine, then it really takes a long time to mess around. Only long and strong vines remain on the roof.If the roof of the gazebo is standard, you can cut it off strongly, leaving up to 4 fruit arrows for 6-10 buds.

On the gazebos themselves, many extra shoots usually grow, giving excessive density, this will have to be removed.

Difficulties can arise in pruning old winter-hardy bushes. Here experts advise not to remove young vines that will bear fruit in the new season. On each young vine, a replacement knot should be left, and small and old shoots should be removed. Then you can already clear the base of the bush so that it does not drown in the undergrowth.

Experts advise to rejuvenate old grape bushes at least once every five years. Since spring, it is necessary to leave a coppice shoot on them, which will later become a sleeve. In autumn, the old sleeve is removed, while on the new one a fruit link is formed.

Correct wintering of grapes - this is a competent pruning, processing with special means (copper sulfate) and a high-quality shelter. Then the new season will start without any problems!

You can find out more information on this issue in the video below.