Cane Pruning 'Concord' Grapes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Unlike muscadines, which are spur-pruned, American bunch grapes like 'Concord' require cane pruning on a two-wire trellis system:

1. Select four vigorous canes and tie them to the wires in opposite directions from the central trunk.
2. Remove all other canes completely.
3. Count buds on the four retained canes—aim for 30–60 total buds distributed evenly.
4. More vigorous vines can support more buds; weaker vines need fewer.

This annual renewal system replaces the entire fruiting structure each year, ensuring productive wood and manageable vine size. Detailed diagrams and training options are available in the "Caring for Bunch Grapes" resource.