What to be doing (Winter dormancy: winter bud scales more or less closed ):
Prune (winter hardy varieties first, followed by less hardy varieties in late winter/early spring)

Watch Pruning Concords Video

Pruning to reduce overwintering disease inoculum:
Removal of infected canes, cordons, trunks, or fruit during dormant pruning can be especially important in the management of Phomopsis Cane and Leaf Spot, Eutypa dieback, and black rot. An understanding of how these pests overwinter leads to the removal in infected tissues, which significantly reduces the primary inoculum available for the upcoming season. This significantly reduces disease pressure and thus, the amount of fungicide needed for management. (From Grape IPM in the Northeast, T. Weigle and J. Kovach, Number 211, 1995)

Watch Eutypa Dieback Video

Renewals - during pruning, mark vines that need replaced, plant layers

Repair equipment

Purchase fertilizers (after obtaining soil and/or petiole test recommendations)

Purchase herbicides, pesticides

Map your vineyard



PHENOLOGICAL STAGES: Eichhorn-Lorenz Stages Images (pdf; 304KB)