Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - July 11, 2011
From: China Grove, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Vines
Title: How to prune wild mustang grape vines.
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
Now that my mustang grapes are harvested. When can I trim them out of the tree top and redirect them to an arbor where I can reach them next year? The main vine is at least 3" across. The vines from this reach at least 50' away. What diameter of this vine can I cut that will re sprout with new growth? Thanks !ANSWER:
Grape vines should be pruned in the dormant season (winter). Pruning later than February may result in "bleeding" of sap from the cut stems, but this will not be a serious problem. A good discussion of how to prune is given in this web site. However, this discussion does not deal with wild vines growing far up into a tree.
Hopefully, your vines have lateral branches spaced along the main stem. You want to prune back these laterals so that each has only 2 to 3 sets of buds. It is these that will produce the fruit. Leaving too many buds will result in smaller fruit. If the lower section of the main stem is free of lateral branches you had better save a greater length of main stem until you reach the point where laterals and their buds are located. Attaching the bare main stem to a horizontal arbor will encourage additional lateral branches to come out in the next growing season.
If you can retain suffiicient buds on the lower portion of your vines, it should be safe to prune even a 2-3 inch thick stem. If that is done, it might be a good idea to paint the cut surface with pruning compound or paint, although many experts say that pruning paint in unnecessary.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Are vines harmful to bricks and mortar?
July 09, 2010 - I am really fond of native vines such as crossvine, coral honeysuckle, American wisteria and carolina jessamine.
I love the look of vines on walls and I would like to add this to a landscape design. ...
view the full question and answer
Information about the wormvine orchid, Vanilla barbellata
November 27, 2007 - Hi
My name is Santiago
I'm from Puerto Rico and discover this Vanilla orchid in the forest, this orchid is V. barbellata var. alba?
You have some information of how identify the V. barbe...
view the full question and answer
Propagation of Texas grapes
November 11, 2015 - What is the best way to propagate wild Texas grapes?
view the full question and answer
Non-blossoming trumpet vine
November 05, 2007 - About 9 years ago I started a trumpet vine, from seeds that I got from plants that were invading an empty home. I saw how invasive it was. It had worked its way into the windows and front porch and ...
view the full question and answer
Duplicate request for information from Austin
August 30, 2012 - I am considering planting cross vine on a wrought iron fence. Will it cause any damage to the wrought iron or stucco posts?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |