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  • Help with old grape vine

    Hi,
    I have got a grape vine growing in a corner of the yard, which we would like to change the location of. At the moment it is coming out from the fence, into two 'arms' which both go in the same direction - into the yard, and then go back to the other fence perpendicular to the one it comes from. In effect, it cuts off use from the entire corner of the yard. I would like to train it along the one fence, which would open up the yard. But... it was overgrown when we bought the house, I have done the best I can in pruning it (I am a complete novice! all I know I have researched on the internet, I think I am still not harsh enough on the pruning - I worry I kill it every year!). The main stem / trunk (unsure of terminology) is about two metres (about 6 feet) long, and looks old and gnarled (about 20cm - 7 inches in diameter), it bends and grows at a 90 degree angle - so parallel to the ground for about 1 metre, then the two 'arms' go for at least another 3metres (about 10cm diameter) - with more shoots coming off these. As it is planted along the fence, I am sure its roots would be intertwined with the mulberry tree next door, so not willing to dig it up. We tried 'twisting' the whole thing, so it could grow along one fence, but the trunk looked and felt like it would snap.
    Does anyone have ideas how we can open up and make the corner of the yard usable again? I am unsure of the grape variety, or age (looks really old) .
    If I cut it back to about one metre off the ground, is it likely new shoots will come out of the trunk, or will this kill it?
    Any advice would be much appreciated!

  • #2
    Some pictures would probably help. I'm finding it difficult to visualise. Also, whereabouts are you? You can add your location to your profile, then it will show up on your posts. By the way, a very warm welcome to the Vine.

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    • #3
      I had an old one once and cut it back really hard in January. It produced new shoots from the trunk that I could train as I wanted. It's quite hard to kill a vine, be ruthless with it.
      Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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      • #4
        I live in Australia (couldn't find an Australian forum, sorry!) - weather-wise, winter is just finishing, had a look today, and the leaves are just coming through - they have sprouted pretty much overnight. I'm not sure if it is too late to do more pruning - or that drastic at least! I can wait until next year if it is too late, if I know it will work!
        I will try get some photos tomorrow
        Thanks for the welcome rustylady!
        Roitelet, when you pruned yours, did you cut the trunk? I would like to cut it where it starts to bend, but that would in effect be cutting the trunk in half, I'm not sure if that is too drastic? :s

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        • #5
          Hi Leece. Please don't apologise for being in Australia, you're still welcome on the Vine. Obviously our growing conditions probably won't be the same as yours, but the company and advice on here is excellent. Found this link for you, which advises pruning hard when the vine is dormant, so I'm not sure if it's a bit late for this year. How to Prune Old Grape Vines | eHow.com

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Leece View Post
            I live in Australia (couldn't find an Australian forum, sorry!) - weather-wise, winter is just finishing, had a look today, and the leaves are just coming through - they have sprouted pretty much overnight. I'm not sure if it is too late to do more pruning - or that drastic at least! I can wait until next year if it is too late, if I know it will work!
            I will try get some photos tomorrow
            Thanks for the welcome rustylady!
            Roitelet, when you pruned yours, did you cut the trunk? I would like to cut it where it starts to bend, but that would in effect be cutting the trunk in half, I'm not sure if that is too drastic? :s
            Can I ammend the advice about pruning hard in January. In your neck of the woods it would be June!

            I think that I would cut hard back and then wait and see where the new shoots are. If there are some or even one below the bend then next year it can be cut back to just above that one. This year you can rip out the soft growth that is in the way. This is fine to do if it will snap, DON'T CUT IT. If there are too many buds (very new shoots at the knob stage) they can just be rubbed out. You will need to keep on top of it on a weekly basis. Should there be a new shoot in the place you want it the it can be trained in now and then when you prune you will have a new rod already to go.

            Best of luck.
            Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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