Pruning Muscadine Vines
Muscadines (Suppernongs) are the disease and insect resistant native grapes also known as 'Southern Grapes' or 'Scuppernongs'. Container grown Muscadines, which can be planted any time of year.
Planting A Muscadine or Scuppernong Vine
Before planting your vine establish a trellis system. The trellis sytem is quite simple: usually a single No.9 wire 5 feet above the ground attached to the top of two pressure treated support posts spaced 20' part. The posts should be no less than 4" in diameter.
After setting your posts and attaching the wire, plant the vine in the center of the posts.
Pruning Your Muscadine or Scuppernong Vine
First Growing Season: If your vine has several shoots (trunks) cut off all but one and train to form a single trunk. Remove all lateral branches on the shoot selected to be the main trunk. When the vine grows beyond the wire cut it off at 3" above wire. Several canes (branches) will grow just beneath the cut. Allow 2 of these canes to follow the wire in either direction. Let grow naturally and leave vine as is during first winter.
Second Winter: Cut back canes growing from the main lateral stems to 2 or 3 buds as shown in the diagram below.
From the fourth winter on remove some of the clusters of fruiting spurs to maintain vigor and to allow new spur clusters to form. Prune heavily at the top of the trunk to prevent excessive growth there. Keep area around the base of the trunk weed free with a 2-3" layer of mulch.
SEE ALSO:
ABout Growing Fruit
Fertilizing Fruit Trees & Plants
Insect Control on Fruit Trees & Plants
Disease Control For Fruit Trees & Plants
Espalier An Apple Tree
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Fruit Plants & Trees:
Choose from a category below to find pruning instructions for other types of Plants & Trees: