Pruning Zen

Here is a great excerpt from Steve Matthiasson's seasonal notes:

"The reason I prune every vine myself is because each cut requires a decision, and while there are many people who can make that decision as well as I can, there are very few who care as much as I do. On the weak vines the cuts should be low, with one bud showing, and one down at the base. This will result in less fruit for that vine. On the strong vines, the cuts should be a little higher, with two very clear and prominent buds, for more fruit. The spacing between the spurs is important, both for this season and for future seasons. The bottom bud that is left should point away from the neighboring spur, so next year's spur will be better spaced. If the spurs are too crowded, one should be removed. I space the spurs further than most pruners do, to maximize quality, even though the yields will be lower. With very weak vines, the entire cordon should be shortened. These types of decisions need to be made instinctually, since there is no time to stop and think-there are way too many vines to prune. Our 1.7 acre vineyard block has 1543 vines on it, requiring around 30 cuts per vine, or 46,000 cuts. It's a zen job, thinking, and cutting, and moving down the rows, the work taking so long that it is only after two months of spending several hours to a half day per visit that the gratification of being finished finally becomes a reality. There is a lot of work yet to come this season, but we can get help for that. The most critical job is done."

Steve Matthiasson, Winter 2006

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