Fruit · pruning calendar
When to prune grapevines
Prune grapevines every year in late winter or early spring, before buds open. Expect to remove most of last year’s growth.
Grapes pruning by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coldzones 3–5 | January: Wait | February: Wait | March: Prune now | April: Prune now | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Temperatezones 6–8 | January: Wait | February: Prune now | March: Prune now | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
| Warmzones 9–11 | January: Prune now | February: Prune now | March: Wait | April: Wait | May: Wait | June: Wait | July: Wait | August: Wait | September: Wait | October: Wait | November: Wait | December: Wait |
- Prune now
- Wait
- Don’t prune now
- Wait Wait until late winter so you can see and remove winter-killed wood.
- Prune now Late winter or early spring, before buds open. You can see and remove winter-killed wood.
- Wait Save the main pruning for late winter. In summer, thin crowded shoots lightly if needed.
How to cut: Keep 1–2 trunks and a few spurs on each arm, with 1–2 buds per spur. Sap “bleeding” from cuts is normal.
Sources
Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.
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