Hello

We have several well established grape vines in the garden. They currently run north and south. To make rototilling the garden easier I would like to turn them 90 degrees to run east and west in one long row instead of several rows 5 ft apart. I can barely get through between the rows with the tractor and 3-pt hitch rototiller.

I would mush rather have parallel rows running east-west instead of some east-west & some north-south.

It is the end of April 2016 and is it too late to move them?

Should I just start over with new grape vines?

There are two issues - one is that it's too late to be moving grape vines, and two, it's really difficult to move an established vine. You would be much better of starting with new vines.

Hello

Thank you for the answer.

I may be able to save the original vines by putting in the new support structure, 50inches tall x 16 ft long livestock panels, between them. Basically, turning the supporting structure and not the vines. This way I may only loss at most 50 percent of the original vines. Have purchased 4 new young vines.

Could I start new grape vines from those vines that will eventually have to be pulled out with the front-end loader?

Could I just take the longest and healthiest branch and bury it in the garden soil and wait till it takes root to cut it off from the "parent" vine?

Yes, you could start new vines by tip layering. Select a healthy 1-year old cane. Dig a hole 8 to 12 inches deep and close enough to the parent vine so that the cane you want to root can reach it. Push the cane into the hole leaving the tip exposed.Back fill with soil, and tamp lightly. The tip of the vine that is exposed should be tied to a wooden stake to hold the buds upright. Once the vine is rooted, it can be separated, but this can take awhile. Another method used for propagation is to take cuttings from late winter to early spring from 1 yr. old canes. Each cutting should have 3 to 5 buds. Cuttings are planted in early spring before growth starts. 2-3 buds should be above the soil line, while 1-2 buds are below. Roughly 1/2 of the cuttings will take hold.