Four Arm Kniffin Grape Pruning Tutorial

Kevin Schoessow, Area Agricultural Development Agent with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, takes you step-by-step through the spring pruning process of a Beta table grape vine trained to the Four-Arm Kniffin system.
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[@maryb9078]

The last of the video with the close up of the cuts and renewal canes was SO helpful. I haven't yet found that in any other video. Thank you so much for such a precise and helpful description of how to prune the grapevines for a beginner like myself! You are appreciated more than you know! Many blessings to you and wishing you a bountiful crop! Thank you!

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Thank you for the feedback! Wishing you the best of luck with your vines.

[@meare5592]

This is the best video I've seen for the 4 Arm Kniffen system that was easy to understand. Thank you.

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Thanks Mari, we are so glad it helped you.

[@snasrawi1944]

Excellent explanation

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Thank you!

[@naimatullah4145]

Outstanding experience

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Thank you, we are glad you found it helpful.

[@MrDash177]

great explain, thanks you

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Glad it helped!

[@hfricke2661]

Thank you a lot for taking the time and explain so detailed how to cut and what concerns you with each cut. A great help to me as a beginner in pruning. May I ask you an additional question? close to the trunk now on both levels are a lot of replacementspers with buds, - specialy on down level. If frost does not kill them or hormons from the upper buds prevent tham from budbreak, will they not be creating to many shoots during coming summer. I realy fear fungus - specialy after last wed summer in colder north of Germany. My question: Will you reduce the number of replacementshoots in early summer after last frosty days (in Germany May )? ... or recomend such a reduction?
Thank you and have a healthy good year 2022!

[@kevinschoessow622]

The pruning and training method described in this video are meant to be general in nature, and instruct people in the basic concepts of training and pruning for four -arm kniffin. As I described in this video, I left several ‘renewal spurs’ with one or two buds, with the “hope” or expectation that these buds will provide replacement canes the following year. What I failed to mention in this video is that not all of these buds will be allowed to grow. Depending on spring weather and how these buds grow, they may be kept or removed. So YES some of these buds/shoots will be removed early in the growing season, once we are past our spring killing frost and we have determined which shoots are worthy of leaving for replacement canes. Pruning in general is done to promote/maintain fruiting buds and to manage the canopy. As you indicated an over-abundance of shoots will increase the risk of fungal diseases. Kevin

[@hfricke2661]

@@kevinschoessow622 Kevin have many thanks for this information. Its of great value, soon I will try my best with your videos guidance in our garden :) Have an early spring and good harvest . Thank you again. Holger

[@billstevenson1623]

Big help

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

Glad to hear it!

[@phill6159]

Why do many renewal spurs? Do some kick off during the winter freeze?

[@kevinschoessow622]

In our cold climate (USDA hardiness zone 3) we do sometimes see winter injury to buds. We tend to leave more renewal spurs then necessary to account for any potential bud injury. Once bud break and shoot development happens we re-evaluate replacement canes and will prune out those that are weak. Pruning is part art, part science and in our small demonstration vineyard, we tend to leave more buds then is typically recommended until we can assess any winter injury.

[@abidzamann]

grape quality name ?

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

This is the Beta variety. It is a cold-hardy grape suited to the sometimes harsh climate of northwestern Wisconsin where these videos are made.

[@N0bull]

4:00 NO I Can’t see…. Camera is too far.

[@lorrainetomanuw-madisonspo3561]

At 14:30 a close-up view and walk-through of the pruning cuts are shown.