How to Prune a Grape Arbor

by Lois Lawrence

Overview

There are few garden features more charming and inviting than a grape arbor covered with lush foliage and laden with ripe fruit. Careful pruning of a grape arbor is essential from the very beginning, because new vines must first be forced to concentrate their energy on upward growth so they will reach the top of the arbor. Once the aggressively pruned vine has reached the top of the arbor, careful pruning must continue, this time to encourage fruit production.
First Stage Pruning Strategy: Getting to the Top

Step 1

Prune all suckers and shoots from new vines, leaving only the foliage near the tip of the main standard.
Step 2

Continue aggressive pruning to encourage upward growth until the vine has reached the top of the arbor.
Step 3

Wind the growing vine around the upward supports as you work, using twine to hold the vine in place as necessary.

Second Stage Strategy: Pruning for Fruit Production

Step 1

Prune to direct all the plant's energy to the sturdiest shoots once the vines have reached the arbor canopy. Look for strong, woody shoots and prune away the rest. These will be the most abundant producers of large, sweet fruit.
Step 2

Be patient. You must allow some branching at this point until you have enough options from which to select vigorous branches. Prune these to lengths known as canes or spurs. The only difference between a cane and a spur is length.
Step 3

Ask your plant provider whether the variety of grape you are growing will produce more grapes on a spur or a cane. Most grapes grown for home use produce best on canes. To prune to a spur, count 2 buds from the stem and cut the branch after the second bud. A cane should be 8 to 12 buds in length.
Step 4

Continue removing weak growth, but allow the canes and spurs you create to produce foliage and develop naturally.
Step 5

Prune regularly in order to keep the arbor from becoming overgrown and to maximize fruit production.

2
Bypass pruning shears Garden twine Knife or scissors
Bypass pruning shears
Garden twine
Knife or scissors
Even if you have no plans to use the grapes from your arbor, you should harvest them when they begin to shrivel in order to prevent unsightly debris from collecting underneath the arbor. The heaviest pruning in stage two should take place in the winter. Once you are working on the canopy of the arbor, pruning at other times of year can be approached more conservatively. Be on the lookout for green stems. Productive shoots grow from woody stems or canes. Any shoot that develops from a bud on a green stem will not produce fruit and should be removed.
Even if you have no plans to use the grapes from your arbor, you should harvest them when they begin to shrivel in order to prevent unsightly debris from collecting underneath the arbor.
The heaviest pruning in stage two should take place in the winter. Once you are working on the canopy of the arbor, pruning at other times of year can be approached more conservatively.
Be on the lookout for green stems. Productive shoots grow from woody stems or canes. Any shoot that develops from a bud on a green stem will not produce fruit and should be removed.