Move Older Grape Vines

Moving Older Grape Vines

Moving grape vine plants may be a bit tricky. Large vines that have an extensive root structure may be damaged during the transplanting process. Smaller vines with a moderate size root ball can be easier to handle and will have a greater success rate of survival. The grape vines must be moved in early spring after all danger of frost has past. The buds on the grape vine must not be showing any signs of green. Plants past the pink bud stage regardless of size, may be permanently damaged due to moving.

List:
Long spade shovel
16-16-16 fertilizer
Support post
Large hammer
Pruning shears
Plastic plant tape

Dig the new transplant hole with the spade shovel. The new location hole must be dug prior to the removal of the grape vine. Leaving the roots of the transplanted grape vine exposed for too long of a time, will cause the roots to dry out and damage will occur to the plant. The new hole should be 12 inches to 16 inches in diameter and just as deep.

Place a small handful of the 16-16-16 fertilizer into the bottom of the new hole. Mix the fertilizer into the soil with the end of the spade shovel.

Install the support post to one side of the new hole. The post must be at least 12 inches to 16 inches in the ground to support the grape vine plant. Use the large hammer to drive the support post into the ground.

Use the spade shovel and dig a circle trench around the grape vine plant. The trench should be equal in size to the diameter of the new hole. Dig the trench to a depth of at least 12 inches.

Cut under the main roots of the grape vine with the spade shovel to create a large root ball at the base of the grape vine plant. Carefully remove the plant from the hole.

Trim any broken or excess roots from the root ball using the pruning shears.

Place the grape vine plant in the new hole. Align the top of the root ball to the ground level of the new location.

Back fill around the root ball in the hole with the excess soil.

Water the plant in well to remove any air that is trapped next to the transplanted roots.

Tie the upper trunk of the grape vine plant to the support post using the plastic plant tape.

Words to the Wise:
The grape vine must be placed in a sunny location with plenty of good soil drainage.

Surrounding air drainage is also important as cold stagnate air may cause new blooms to freeze on the plant during a late frost.