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
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 Pruning Questions
Care for lantana in Katy TX
December 04, 2010 - Hello. I live in Katy TX and have a number of Lantana shrubs. How and when should they be cut back?
view the full question and answer
Need information about pruning Persimmon trees in Buda, TX.
November 29, 2010 - Mr. Smarty,
We have many wild persimmon trees in our yard. Some I want prune to bush size. What is the best way to prune these trees and to what extent can they be safely pruned.
Thank you for shari...
view the full question and answer
How can I prune my Texas Mountain Laurels to be more tree-like?
March 24, 2011 - I planted several Texas Mountain Laurels last spring and would like to train them to be more tree-like rather than shrub-like. Each is around 36" tall with 5-10 trunks coming from the ground. Where...
view the full question and answer
Pruning Copper Plants
February 06, 2013 - I planted two beautiful copper plants in my front beds. They went wild during the fall, but got so leggy that I cut them back nearly to the ground, which I believe was a mistake. Will they come back o...
view the full question and answer
Trimming a bur oak in Llano, TX
February 06, 2009 - We have a beautiful, large Burr Oak next to our house. This tree has many large lateral branches. I have trimmed dead branches, but no other trimming. It grows a lot of "suckers" during growing sea...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |