skip to main content

Grape Vine Removal and Replanting

15 years ago

I have 10 Chambourcin vines about 8 years old that I want to remove and replant with another variety. What is the best way to remove them? They are woody, about 1-1.5 inches in diameter. They are vigorous but do not have the time to follow the proper spray regimen. As a result in all but 2 years black rot has claimed the crop before harvest. I would like to replant with U of MN winter hardy table and seedlees grapes. Should I just cut them a few inches above the ground then use a stump killer? If so, is it too late now that they are dropping leaves and going dormant? If chemical is the way to go and it should be a spring application painted on the stump, can I replant next to it? I am sure root system removal is not possible and even with chemical treatment they may continue to sprout for a while. Is there another way?

Comments (5)

makalu_gw
15 years ago
I've never actually removed a grape vine, roots and all. I'd think that cutting followed by stump killer in spring when the vine is starting growth or cutting higher up and trying to pull out with some chain and a pickup truck could work. You might want to cross post this to the Fruits and Orchards forum since they have many more growers over there and maybe they have a better way.
interior_d
15 years ago
I may be a bit late but what about grafting another varietal on the existing trunks?
Related Discussions
replanting a grape vine?
Q
Comments (2)
Shelby: Right now is the ideal time to move your vine. I'd move it with a nice size rootball. But, at it's current age, you could move it bareroot as well. I've done it many times and had great results. Just water it well after the move. The Fruitnut
...See More
Help with my newly planted Concord grape vine
Q
Comments (1)
You could dig it up and add more soil. But grapes are just rooted cuttings so the part below ground is all rooted stem. I don't see where adding more soil on top would cause any issues. Those are tiny grapes clusters expanding. I'd cut them off this year. You can leave a few next year if it grows well this year. I'd cut it back to that bottom strong cane and tie it off to the stake for support. The young canes are prone to blowing out until they harden off. Wrap the brown part around the stake as well or tie it to the stake. Make loose ties so as not to strangle the shoots and remove the tie when it's no longer needed.
...See More
Grape vine producing very small grapes...
Q
Comments (11)
Remy: Thompson seedless are naturally small berries. What you are seeing is somewhere near the normal berry size of that cultivar. Commercial growers achieve larger berries by spraying gibberellic acid to first thin the fruit off each cluster and then to plump up the remaining berries. They also use other tricks like girdling the trunk. You could do this. It's not that hard. But it doesn't increase the flavor or sweetness and may do the opposite. Doing a better job of pruning, thinning, and other cultural tasks can increase berry size somewhat if they are limiting factors. Commercially berry size increase is used only for Thompsons destined for table grape use or other special applications like Jumbo raisins. The normal raisins are grown with small berries just like yours. So the vast majority of Thompsons are grown like yours with small berries.
...See More
Is My Grape Vine Infected by Black Rot Disease (grape experts needed)
Q
Comments (1)
I grow a few varieties of grapes but not sure I would call myself an expert. From your pictures, it looks like you have one or more fungal infections on your grapes. The treatment is essentially the same if it is black rot, downy mildew, phomopsis cane, etc. At the end of the season, you'll need to prune off the infected canes, clean up around the vines, and make sure that there are no infected grapes laying around. Start the vine on a spray program next year and it should clear up. My vines looked worse last year but this year I followed the spray program and they are nearly perfect. The season isn't over but I may have more grapes than I know what to do with. Although our regions are a bit different, here is the guide I used to manage the spray routine. Midwest IPM Guide
...See More
sandy0225
15 years ago
we moved some of ours with a trenching bucket on the skid loader, and relocated them last year to another place in the yard. They didn't come up at all in the old place again.
But they did actually produce a very small amount of grapes in the new location last summer. They were about 7 years old and very woody. So I'd suggest dig or pull them up with a tractor or truck.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
15 years ago
That movie "A walk in the Clouds," is about a vineyard that catches fire. The family is devastated because they brought the old stock from Italy, and it got destroyed. One scene, our hero pulls and pushes and gets the burnt stump out of the ground. The old grandpa takes a knife, and peels away the bark, and the inside is green! They all rejoice!!

I think if you could graft another varietal (like Interior D suggested) onto the root stock it may be easier and get you what you want.

Good luck!
jimla
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the grafting suggestion. I have a seeded concord that does well so I could do my pruning and save some for the grafts. I would also like to try other varieties particularly those like Marquette or Jupiter which are more reistance to cold and disease. Any suggestions where I could get cuttings to graft? I can buy 2 year rooted plants but do the nurserys like AA sell just cuttings? Could I buy a rooted plant and use just the top in the graft?
Thanks

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

RED FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: 'Roger's Red' California Wild Grape

By Annie Thornton

Lush, vivid and a considerate provider of snacks for wildlife, this deciduous vine is especially spectacular in a fall garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN See 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Vines

By Falon Mihalic

Vines can grow over slopes, trail off pergolas and add seasonal color to the garden

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Rose + Clematis for Small-Space Impact

We all need somebody to lean on. And when a rose supports a climbing vine, the results can totally transform a small garden

SPRING GARDENING Summer Crops: How to Grow Strawberries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pluck your own sweet strawberries right from the garden vine for smoothies, salads or eating then and there

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Historic Concord Grapevine Cottage’s Charms Restored

By Becky Harris

This famous property had fallen on hard times, but passionate homeowners lovingly brought it back

DIY PROJECTS Houzz DIY: Halloween Terrarium

By Annie Thornton

Orchids, spooky foliage and carnivorous plants combine in this seasonal, easy-to-assemble terrarium decoration

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top Native Plants for Northern California Gardens

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife of Northern California

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: Scent and Memory

By Laura Gaskill

Fragrant jasmine, fresh-brewed coffee, baking bread. Scents can evoke memories and bring sensory pleasure to our homes

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

GARDENING GUIDES Your Garden Is Stirring — Here’s What to Do in February

By Susan Haynes

February is a good time to start seeds, shape up shrubs and watch for the earliest blooms. Here’s what to do in your part of the U.S. now

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading Kitchen & Bath Remodelers in Franklin County, OH