Moving a vine from pot to ground

[Snoop Puss]

Hi guys, am currently at my parents' house. They have a vine in wooden tub shaped like half a small wine barrel. They've had it for years and it is sprawling all over the place now. They haven't ever pruned it significantly, just the odd bits to stop it invading the neighbours' garden.

But... the barrel has split apart.

Ideally, I would choose to prune it right back and then stick it in the ground.

Any views or advice anyone?

I've only ever seen vines grown for wine grapes and I know they are pruned right back. I don't want to give the plant an almighty shock by pruning very short and moving to a new location, but it can't stay as it is. I know it's alive as buds are forming.

The grape harvest is less of a concern than the vine itself. Mum and Dad hardly eat any of the grapes, just leave them for the birds. In case it's relevant information, it has been enormously productive in past years.

[Guest]

It is the one time I wouldn't personally be a wuss and I would cut right back the same as you. You do need to act quick though before it wakes up much more. If you are (or parents) really worried then reduce by a third as the is the safe option rule for most plants.

[veggiechicken]

I've had some rampant grape vines (sorry NG) and cut them back hoping to kill them It didn't work! They're toughies.
An alternative approach to pruning - If your parents like it where it is, can you remove the broken barrel and build a raised bed around the rootball?

[happyhumph]

Like NG and VC say - you really can hack it back. I prune one for a friend - it's growing over a sunshadey thing and you wouldn't believe how much I take off - it looks dead when I've done it but always comes back.

Is the barrel on a patio/hardstanding? I've seen them break out of pots and force roots through concrete so check that first.......

[Jungle Jane]

I pruned mine right back a few weeks ago,I'd prune it now,it could bleed sap although I haven't ever had dripping sap from mine,it could happen? If it does,check it's not dripping on any new buds but I don't know much about it,I was reading someone had sap dripping for two days? Grapes grow on new wood so you could still have a few bunches,it will be much better off in the ground too.

[roitelet]

I wouldn't cut it at this time of year as the sap is rising fast and it could bleed to death. The raised bed sounds like a good idea as it will have probably rooted into the ground. Just keep it under control for this year and in the depths of next winter then you can cut it as hard as you like, down to a stump and it will come back.

[Guest]

I pruned mine right back a few weeks ago,I'd prune it now,it could bleed sap although I haven't ever had dripping sap from mine,it could happen? If it does,check it's not dripping on any new buds but I don't know much about it,I was reading someone had sap dripping for two days? Grapes grow on new wood so you could still have a few bunches,it will be much better off in the ground too.

If it was on here there is a good chance that was me. A few years ago there where high winds around mid summer. The vine was top heavy and congested and the previous owner had rigged up a precarious trellis thing for it so the whole lot came down. No choice but to bite the bullet and cut through the two inch trunk and it was a 'waterfall' (that is not an understatement) for two days. Scarey as hell and was certain it wouldn't be back the next year.........but she is still going.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, guys. The tub is on paving stones, so I'll have to make sure it hasn't rooted between the gaps. That's a good point. A raised bed isn't feasible, I'm afraid, but it's a nice idea.

It really is a sprawling thing. I reckon there will be about 30% left. But seeing as it's likely to do very badly in it's current state, there's not much to lose. So chop and move it is.

Thanks for all the advice and info on previous experience.

[Snoop Puss]

Just to report back, I've pruned the top quite a bit. No significant loss of sap so far. That's the good news.

The bad news is that it has rooted big time into the ground because it turns out the guys who laid the patio didn't put a tile underneath it. Mum and Dad were away when the patio was done and had no idea. I always wondered how it managed to do so well in such a tiny tub. Unfortunately, before I discovered the lack of a tile, I'd cut back some of the roots and given it a big tug or two. The best I can do now is cut the bottom out of a tub and try and get it on over the top of the plant. That way, least the roots and soil above the patio tile level will get some protection.

It will have had an almighty shock to the system, so I hope it survives. Mum was quite sanguine about it. If it dies, she says they'll put a clematis in.

[BUFFS]

I would take off nearly all of the side stems, just leaving one or two shoots on each , so you have a long stem left, I would then cut the root and plant the vine into the ground, keeping the root area shaded as it recovers, with nearly all the shoots gone, the strain on the damaged roots should be less. plants will survive if you give hem a chance, even if it takes a season to get its strength back, and I would love a vine that produces in the way you say but we don't get the summers or any summer sometimes, and any fresh fruit from the garden always tastes great...good luck with whatever you decide to do..

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, BUFFS. It turns out that essentially it is planted in the ground. Except with a lot of root and soil formerly in the tub above ground level. I've decided I'm going to leave it where it is, just try and put some protection around the above-ground soil and roots. But, as you suggest, I'm certainly going to have to prune it back far more than I did yesterday.

[BUFFS]

[QUOTE=Snoop Puss;1523548]Thanks, BUFFS. It turns out that essentially it is planted in the ground. Except with a lot of root and soil formerly in the tub above ground level. I've decided I'm going to leave it where it is, just try and put some protection around the above-ground soil and roots. But, as you suggest, I'm certainly going to have to prune it back far more than I did yesterday.[/QUOTE

you can decide and prepare what you want to do with it, could you plant it to grow over a overhead trellis/ net, to let fruit grow and be able to enjoy them, sitting in the shade of a vine with a full glass of vino in your hand, now that's a relaxing thought..

[Snoop Puss]

Hi BUFFS, it has to stay where it is, as I can't move it without doing major damage. A trellis is a nice idea, but it's my parents' garden and I think they'd rather have the sun. You might be in rain central, but it's a beautiful area.