I bought muscadines in July. They are out of control and I need to train them to pergola. Do I cut them back now or wait
by
Wendy B
+1
Silly me...I knew nothing about them and we just built the pergola. Now I have 4 different muscadine vines that I need to train up this pergola and start reading. I don't get the cutting back yet and am scared to do it. Also, they say to cut in Feb. Do I wait, please say yes and remove this stress from me for now, haha! Thanks for any advice!
4 answers
-
Not so much a botanical thing but are you planning to put in some type of more durable "flooring" for this pergola area...the beauty of a pergola is the shade they provide..which means hanging out under it...increases to traffic in they will kill grass and other plantings...the plant can be by the posts for climbing...but some flagstone or something should be used out in the main area. http://www.hometalk.com/kevin/board/133326 In the above project I had to cut away some of the existing flagstone for this install.
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 18, 2012
-
beautiful work KMS...we literally ONLY just built that pergola, not even dry enough to stain yet. Yes, we will level up the ground and finish it properly. I will add pictures of the completed work as soon as it is done. It's hard working full time jobs and getting everything done all at once! Thanks for the comment and the idea!
Wendy B
on Jul 18, 2012
-
If the grapes have multiple branches, choose the strongest one and remove the others at their base. It won't hurt the plant. You can use twine to loosely tie the vine to the posts so it can go up them to the top. Keep in mind that you'll have lots of yellowjackets under the pergola when the grapes ripen. This is usually not a problem....I pick grapes with several of them flying around me. They are MUCH more interested in sipping sweet juice from dropped fruit. Just don't step on one with a bare foot!
Walter Reeves
on Jul 18, 2012
-
I still have not cut them back Walter...I'm just too chicken. I want to thank you for the information and I am pretty sure in October AFTER my daughters wedding out in the yard...I will follow your advice on how to do this. October will still be okay to cut them back right?
Wendy B
on Jul 25, 2012
Sign Up to Answer
