The 10 Best Grapevine Trimmers

Proper grapevine pruning is crucial for healthy fruit formation and significantly affects the quality of your grapes come harvest time.

However, the sheer number of tools and techniques available for pruning can make a simple task needlessly complex.

Worry not! In this guide, we share our top 10 picks for the best grapevine trimmers and all you need to know to make a wise and practical choice for your vines.

---

Best Overall Trimmer

Hoss Pruning Shears

If you’ve got grape vnes, then you need these pruning shears from Hoss Tools! The design hasn’t changed since 1917, which should tell you everything you need to know about the reliability and durability of this pruning tool. It makes short work not just of grapevines, but fruit trees, berry canes and bushes, and all your light pruning jobs as well.

The shears’ blades are coated with non-stick PTFE, have a shock-absorbing spring, and have three different opening positions for setting the cutting width.

---

Best Budget

Corona 3180 Bypass Pruner

This pruning shear from Corona is one of the best grapevine trimmers and a must-have for your gardening toolbox. It has a high-precision and top-quality build that keeps its parts aligned for many years.

The pruner is a budget buy and suitable for the everyday work of trimming green vines and brown branches and stems around one-inch diameter.

---

Best Comfortable Bypass Pruner

ARS HP-VS8XR 8-Inch Rotating Handle Hand Pruner

One of our top picks for the best grapevine trimmers is the ARS Pruner. It has a rotating handle for a comfortable pruning experience.

The superior ergonomics get even better with its latch lock mechanism that allows for single-hand operation. It also has a non-slip coating on its handles.

The pruner resists damage from sap and should last a long time.

---

Best Durable Shear

Berger 4490 Hedge Shears

Berger Hedge Shears are one of the best grapevine trimmers for pruning woody hedges, bushes, and shrubs. Its alloy steel handle has straight-edge blades that easily cut through thick branches.

It also has two sap grooves through which plant residue can flow away from the tool.

While the shears are well-made and durable, they may be a bit too heavy for beginners.

---

Best Trimming Lopper

Felco 200 Straight Cutting Loppers, 24-Inches

The Felco 200 is another trusted product by Felco and one of the best grapevine trimmers. It has easily adjustable slide-resistant blades for a high-precision cut every time.

These loppers have a cutting capacity of 1.4 inches. They come in three sizes for user comfort and, like the other Felco trimmers, have a shock absorption system.

If you need more budget options, check out top picks for loppers!

---

Best Grapevine Trimmers for Cultivation

ARS Stainless Steel Cultivation Scissors

If you need the best grapevine trimmers for harvesting, it doesn’t get better than these cultivation scissors from ARS.

They have straight blades that make cultivation easy for professionals and beginners. The handles are designed for utmost comfort, too. The stainless steel blades resist rust and sap damage.

---

Best Hands-Free Shear

Saboten Hands-Free Pruning Shears

If you’re looking for one of the best grapevine trimmers for convenience, these Saboten pruning shears are perfect.

They come with a unique hands-free design so you can keep the scissors on your fingers while switching between pruning and trellising. They are great for tight spaces and have a safety latch for safe storage.

To best maintain your new shears, our guide to sharpening pruning shears is a must-read!

---

Best Electric Pruner

Zenport EP3 ePruner

The Zenport ePruner is one of the best grapevine trimmers if you have a lot of vines to trim but little time to do so. These electric trimmers are also great for older adults or anyone who wants to save their hands from the pain of gardening for hours at a time.

This trimmer is very lightweight, and, as a fun bonus, it comes with a portable impact-resistant toolbox.

---

Best Trimmers for Hand Protection

Gonicc Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears

The Gonicc is one of the best grapevine trimmers for vineyard pruning if you are a beginner or have relatively weak hands. It is affordable and an excellent investment for all your future pruning needs.

It is easy to use, with high-quality blades that will safely cut through vines or branches about three-fourth inches in diameter.

---

Best Pruner

Gardener’s Friend Pruners, Ratchet Pruning Shears

The Gardener’s pruners are the ones to go for if you need to make small and large cuts. They are compatible with left and right-handed usage and great for beginners with relatively weaker hands.

---

Things to Know When Trimming Grapevines

How Often Do You Need to Trim Your Grapevines?

Grapevines need annual pruning. This ensures productive vines have enough space and resources to continue growing.

Pruning also optimizes fruit production during the season.

When Should You Trim Your Grapevine?

The best time to trim your grapevine is during the dormancy season or late winter every year. Usually from February to March, it can start as early as December in some locations and end by January.

Check your grapevine to ensure it is dormant (i.e., the leaves have fallen off) before you begin pruning. If there is a hard frost in late winter, put off pruning for a few more weeks.

What Tools to Use For Trimming Your Grapevines?

Choosing the correct pruning tools is crucial to the process. There is a risk of injuring the vine, which can damage your season’s produce.

Loppers are great for pruning canes (green summer shoots that harden into woody brown after leaf fall), especially those more than two inches in diameter. For thicker growths, a hand saw might be more practical. Tree pruners are best for making clean cuts on vines thinner than 2 inches in diameter.

Which Part of the Grapevines to Trim?

Trim off 90% of the old wood growth, especially the stems growing from the lower part of the vines.

You only need to leave two to three buds on each shoot. They should be enough to bear the grapes of the season.

What Type of Trimming Do You Need to Do?

Cane pruning and spur pruning are the two basic types most growers use.

Cane pruning is best for Concord and other American grape varieties grown in colder regions. It involves selecting one or two newly fruiting canes and cutting everything back. Next, further pruning of the fruiting canes helps them mature or grow shoots for next year.

Spur pruning is the best choice if you’re growing French hybrid varieties in a warm region. It involves trimming the vines back to spurs (cane with two or three buds), each about a hand’s width apart.

There are also other pruning methods and techniques that you can check out in our comprehensive pruning guide.

FAQ’s

What is the best way to trim/prune a grapevine?

The best way to trim a grapevine is by selecting a sturdy cane and cutting it back three to four feet, leaving only two or three renewal bud spurs.

What time of year to trim/prune a grapevine?

The best time of year to trim a grapevine is during the late winter season, which lasts from February to April. It can start as early as December to January in locations with mild weather.

Wrapping up the Best Grapevine Trimmers

These are all the details about some of the best grapevine trimmers on the market today. These grapevine trimmers can do everything from small-scale backyard gardening to large-scale commercial applications.

We hope this guide will help you find just the perfect grapevine trimmer for your needs.

If you want to learn more about the best methods and tools for growing healthy, productive grapevines, visit our Grapevines page for our helpful guides and blog posts about all things grape!

Shopping for your garden can get overwhelming, fast. So if you’re looking for advice on garden tools and garden supplies, then you’re in the right place!