Converting an Old Vineyard from Spur to Cane Pruning – A Note from Dan at Robert Clay Vineyards

Converting an Old Vineyard from Spur to Cane Pruning – A Note from Dan at Robert Clay Vineyards

Hello friends, Dan here from Robert Clay Vineyards in Mason, Texas! If you’ve ever visited our estate, you’ve probably seen our sprawling vines and maybe even heard me ramble on about how pruning can make or break a vintage. At its core, pruning is about guiding the vine’s energy to produce the best possible fruit. Yet, the big question many growers face is: spur pruning or cane pruning?

We used to rely heavily on spur pruning in a few of our older vineyard blocks, but we’ve been making the switch to cane pruning. It’s certainly a process—requiring a bit more work and finesse—but the payoff can be remarkable when it comes to vine balance and fruit quality. Let me walk you through why we decided to make this change and how we’re carrying it out here at Robert Clay.

1. Why Make the Switch?

1.1 Better Canopy Control

At Robert Clay Vineyards, we’re all about quality fruit and balanced vines. Cane pruning helps us fine-tune how many buds (and ultimately clusters) each vine carries. By carefully selecting the canes, we can avoid overloading the plant and ensure each cluster gets the sunlight and airflow it needs—crucial in our warm Texas summers.

1.2 More Options for Renewal Wood

In spur-pruned vines, your choices for buds are limited to what’s on the cordon. Cane pruning, on the other hand, lets us pick from new canes that emerge around the head of the vine each season. This is especially helpful if some old spurs are declining or not producing robust shoots.

1.3 Healthier Vines Over Time

If you have older vines—like some of ours—the wood can get weaker and more disease-prone over time. By renewing canes each year, we’re continuously refreshing the vine’s fruiting wood. That means fewer issues with dead or blind buds and a healthier vine overall.

2. The Foundation: Spur vs. Cane

2.1 Spur Pruning

  • How it Works: You leave 1-2 bud spurs along a permanent cordon each winter.
  • Pros: Quicker pruning once the cordon is established.
  • Cons: Limited bud options; older wood can accumulate disease or die-back.

2.2 Cane Pruning

  • How it Works: Each winter, you select one or two long canes near the head of the trunk, remove the old cane(s), and lay the new ones along a fruiting wire.
  • Pros: More control over how many buds and clusters you leave; fresh wood each year.
  • Cons: More labor-intensive, and you really have to keep an eye on vine vigor and trellis setup.

3. Assessing Your Vines Beforehand

  • Trunk Health: If you see trunk disease or signs of old age creeping in, you’ll need to be extra cautious. You don’t want large, gaping wounds that open the vine to more infections.
  • Trellis Setup: Cane pruning usually requires a well-maintained trellis with enough space to lay down canes. If you’ve only got a single high wire or an older system, you might need to add extra support wires.
  • Vine Age and Vigor: Older vines can still adapt, but give them time. If your vineyard is really vigorous, you’ll need to manage shoot growth carefully to avoid a jungle of leaves. And if vigor is low, you might need to do some soil or nutrient work first.

4. Our Transition at Robert Clay

4.1 Year One: Setting the Stage

Last winter, we tagged a few canes that looked especially promising—strong, straight, and well-positioned near the head of the vine. While we still spur-pruned the rest of the cordon, we left those chosen “renewal canes” longer to develop.

4.2 Year Two: Making the Cut

This second winter was our big step. We removed the old cordon wood on many vines (always a bit nerve-wracking!) and carefully laid down the new canes. We’d measured each vine’s vigor to figure out how many buds to leave—usually somewhere between 8 to 12 per cane, but that depends on the variety and vine health.

4.3 Year Three: Tweaking and Perfecting

This is where it gets exciting. We’re now in the stage of refining our cane selection each season. We’ll remove last year’s fruiting cane and choose a fresh cane that emerged this year. We’re also monitoring shoot growth in the spring and adjusting crop loads if needed—thinning clusters or shoots to keep each vine balanced.

5. Hard-Earned Lessons

  1. Take It Slow: Converting an entire vineyard overnight might cause undue stress on the vines (and your team!). We phased our approach, starting with a few rows so we could learn what works best here in Mason County.
  2. Prune Smart: Prune on dry days to reduce infection risk, and always keep your tools sharp and sanitized. Yes, it’s extra work, but trust me—healthy wood leads to healthier vines.
  3. Keep Your Eyes on the Canopy: With Texas heat, you’ve got to manage shade and airflow. Cane pruning allows you to arrange shoots more evenly, but it takes time and attention throughout the season.
  4. Listen to the Vines: Some vines just don’t respond well to abrupt changes. Be patient, monitor each vine’s vigor, and adjust your pruning strategy as you go. Farming is all about the long game.

6. Why We Love Cane Pruning

A well-managed cane-pruned vine is a thing of beauty. Each year, you give the vine a fresh start—choosing only the best canes for fruiting and letting the vine focus its energy where it counts. Yes, it’s more hands-on, but for us at Robert Clay Vineyards, the results are worth the effort. We’re seeing more consistent fruit set, better quality clusters, and a canopy that’s easier to manage in our warm climate.

Closing Thoughts

Transitioning an older vineyard from spur pruning to cane pruning is not a one-and-done deal; it’s a journey. But if you’re seeking a more balanced vine, more reliable yields, and (in many cases) superior fruit quality, cane pruning could be the ticket.

If you ever swing by Robert Clay Vineyards, I’d be happy to walk you through our rows and show you our progression. We’re excited about how this shift is enhancing our vineyard’s performance—and ultimately, the wines we share with all of you.

Until next time, thanks for reading—and remember: the vineyard is a living, breathing system that responds to every decision we make. Here’s hoping our decisions lead to even more delicious bottles for your table.

Cheers,
Dan
Robert Clay Vineyards, Mason, TX