Pruning your grapevine each winter is essential to keep it productive, tidy, and perfectly trained along your espalier system. There are two main methods of grapevine pruning: cane pruning and spur pruning.
For espaliered vines, we recommend spur pruning—a technique used widely in home gardens and for vines trained along permanent wire trellises, like those built with our Espalar Kits.
✂️ What is Spur Pruning?
Spur pruning involves cutting back the previous season’s growth along the main horizontal canes. You’ll leave behind short spurs, each with two healthy buds, which will produce new shoots and grape clusters in spring.
📍 Step-by-Step Winter Pruning
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Identify last season’s canes growing off your main horizontal structure.
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Select strong, evenly spaced canes and cut them back to two buds, about 1cm above the top bud.
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Make the cut at a slight angle, sloping away from the bud—this prevents water from settling on the cut and damaging the bud.
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Remove any weak, tangled, or downward-facing shoots.
💡 Use Espalar plant ties to gently secure canes to your wire trellis. They’re soft, reusable, and plant-friendly.
🌿 Feeding & Care
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In early spring, apply a general-purpose garden fertilizer, and feed again during the growing season while your vine is still young.
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Keep fertilizer away from the vine’s base, and water in well after feeding.
With consistent pruning and proper training, your espaliered grapevine will reward you with vigorous growth, healthy fruit, and a beautifully structured shape.
🍇 Explore our full range of Espalar Kits to get started or upgrade your espalier system.