How to Manage Grapevines During the Dormant Period: Top 10 Tips

The dormant period for grapevines generally begins in September when branches mature, reaching its deepest phase from October to November, and lasting until late January of

the following year.During this period, the primary goals for vineyard management are to shape the vines and control yield through pruning, ensure the vines survive the winter, and lay a solid 

foundation for the next growing season. 

1. Thorough Vineyard Cleaning

Remove all diseased branches, leaves, fruits, tendrils, paper bags, and weeds from the vineyard. These should be either deeply buried or burned outside the vineyard, never left to 

decompose as fertilizer. Additionally, old bark peeling from mature grapevines should also be stripped and burned to minimize the risk of disease and pest infestations in the following year.

2. Apply Base Fertilizer Before Soil Freezes

So

me growers apply fertilizer in three stages: before leaf fall in autumn (September–October), in winter before soil freezing (December), or in early spring before budding 

(February–March). Practical experience shows that applying fertilizer around the Autumn Equinox (late September) while the leaves are still present yields the best results. Use a trenching method, digging 

50–60 cm deep to apply decomposed organic fertilizer (3,000–5,000 kg per acre) along with 50 kg of superphosphate. If you miss the optimal autumn window, apply fertilizer before year-end using the 

same depth, method, and quantities. Avoid spring applications, as the size of the grape clusters is directly linked to nutrient availability in the prior year.

3. Water Immediately After Fertilization

Irrigate the vineyard promptly to ensure the fertilizer penetrates the soil and is absorbed effectively.

4. Perform Soil Cultivation

After applying base fertilizer, if no rainfall occurs within 10–15 days, loosen and turn the soil using tools such as hoes or shovels to a depth of 30–40 cm. This enhances soil 

aeration and ensures better nutrient absorption.

5. Winter Pruning of Mature Vines

Based on extensive experience, the ideal pruning period is from mid-December to mid-February when the weather is cold. Pruning too early may reduce the vine’s cold 

resistance due to incomplete nutrient translocation, while late pruning can lead to sap bleeding.

6. Conduct Two Rounds of Disinfection

After pruning, cleaning the vineyard, and removing old bark, perform two disinfection treatments: one immediately after winter pruning and another during the bud-swell stage in

 early spring. Spray a 3–5-degree Baume lime sulfur solution (or 1-degree Baume lime sulfur with 0.3–0.5% sodium pentachlorophenate, or a 1:1000 dilution of 25% imidacloprid, or a 1:500–600 

dilution of 65% zineb). Ensure temperatures are above 5°C during application.

7. Collect Cuttings for Propagation

For healthy and high-quality nursery stock, collect cuttings from vigorous, disease-free mother vines with excellent fruiting characteristics. The cuttings should be mature, with 

plump buds. Label the cuttings immediately to avoid mixing different varieties, and store them properly to prevent mold.

8. Prepare for New Vineyard Establishment

Farmers planning to establish new vineyards should finalize land leases, complete site planning and soil preparation, and excavate planting trenches before the soil freezes. Also, 

finalize grape variety selection and seedling procurement.

9. Inspect and Repair Support Structures

For greenhouses, tunnels, or rain-sheltered cultivation systems, thoroughly inspect and repair support structures such as bamboo poles, concrete pillars, wires, and crossbars.

10. Apply Freeze-Proofing Irrigation

Irrigate the soil before it freezes to reduce frost damage and allow sunlight to sterilize the loosened soil. Perform another round of soil cultivation after the irrigation to maximize 

these benefits.