How to prune grapes around a pergola: complete guide

TL;DR

Grapes around a pergola need annual pruning to fruit well. In March cut all side shoots (canes) back to two buds. This is your main pruning. In summer thin out and remove growing tips (crowns). With good pruning you get abundant grapes every year.

Why prune grapes?

Grapes grow vigorously and want to become massive tangles of cane. Without pruning you get dense, wild confusion, lots of foliage but little fruit. Also grapes rot away in dense foliage without air. With regular pruning you keep the plant structured, get more fruit, and healthier grapes.

March: Base pruning

In March, before buds break, cut all side shoots (canes) back to two buds (roughly 10-15 cm).

This is your main pruning. You keep two to four main vines (preferably evenly spaced around the pergola post), and cut all side shoots back to two buds. This is rigorous, but necessary.

Why two buds? Two buds gives one or two flowers and thus one or two grape bunches. This is ideal for large, good grapes. More buds give more grapes, but they stay smaller and ripen slower.

April to May: Growth and flowering

After March your grape grows and flowers appear. This is crucial. Make sure your plant gets enough water and food. Without water your grape suffers, and without food it ripens poorly.

No pruning in this period: your plant must grow and flower.

June to July: Remove crowns

This is important. Once your grape has flowered (June, early July), cut off all growing tips (crowns). This works as follows:

On each side shoot you cut back in March, two to three new shoots now grow. Once those shoots have two leaves past the flower, cut the tip off. This concentrates all energy into the fruit, not foliage.

You must do this regularly: twice in June, twice in July.

July to August: Thin out

Now your grapes grow, you thin the bunches. This is delicate work:

• Remove small, underdeveloped bunches
• Keep maximum one bunch per side shoot
• Remove closely spaced grapes from each bunch with scissors

This sounds wasteful, but large, healthy grapes are better than many small ones.

August to September: Maintenance

In this period no more pruning. Your grapes ripen on. Check for rot, bird damage, or other issues. Water regularly.

October to November: Autumn clean-up

After harvest remove dead wood and fallen leaves. You do not need much: you did all your pruning in March and June.

Grape types: table and wine grapes

This makes a difference for pruning:

Table grapes (Muscat, Flame, Crimson) grow somewhat less wildly. Same pruning as above.

Wine grapes (Chasselas, Müller-Thurgau) grow more vigorously. Slightly harder March pruning helps.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my grape not get sweet?

Probably not enough sun (grapes need at least six hours) or too much foliage (you crowned too little). Also possibly unripe: grapes do not ripen more after harvest. Wait until they are really purple or dark purple.

How long until fruiting?

Usually two to three years after planting. First the grape builds itself up. Then it fruits every year.

Can I cut grapes hard in autumn?

Better not. Autumn pruning risks frost damage. March is safer.

My grape grows wild up the pergola. What now?

This is normal in year one. Let it grow. In March of year two you cut back. Much patience.

Does my grape need support?

Yes, heavy wire or strong mesh along the pergola. Grapes get heavy from water and fruit.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Support and feeding

Make sure your pergola is strong enough. Add compost around the root in March.

Step 2: March pruning

Cut all side shoots back to two buds. Keep two to four main vines around the post.

Step 3: Allow growth

April-May: let your grape grow and flower. Water regularly.

Step 4: Remove crowns

June-July: once grapes flower, cut growing tips off (two leaves past flower).

Step 5: Thin grapes

July: remove small bunches, keep maximum one bunch per side shoot.

Step 6: Harvest

August-September: harvest ripe grapes. Do not pick if still green.

Step 7: Autumn clean-up

October: remove dead wood and fallen leaves.

Cultivars for pergolas

Chasselas: Classic table grape. Yellow, sweet. Strong grower.

Vanessa: Red table grape. Early ripening. Somewhat slower grower.

Muscat: Fragrant, sweet. Moderate vigour.

Müller-Thurgau: Wine type. Vigorous. For wine.

Discover your own garden design

At [gardenworld.app](https://gardenworld.app) you can upload your front yard and see how your grape fits around the pergola, along with other plantings. Plan and visualise before you plant.

Grapes: worth the effort

Grapes require regular care and pruning. But a full grape around your pergola, with bunches of ripe, sweet grapes, is worth it. With March pruning, June crowning, and July thinning you get beautiful grapes every year.