Can you safetly transfer grapevines?

Question

to a diffrent location. We are moving into this old house and the previous owner wants us to move the vines for her.

Answer 1

Yes, they can be moved, but it depends on how big they are.  If they have been there a long time, it would be difficult to move them without killing them and then you might be better to try to replace them.  If you know what variety they are.  

If they are not all that large, the best time to try it would undoubtedly be in the spring, just before the plants begin to grow.  Dig up as much of the root as you can.  Prune the tops to balance how much of the root you have left behind.  Plants almost always have as much going on below ground as they do above - so you may have to cut the tops hard to make it work.

Plant them immediately and water well.  They will need to be monitored closely for a year or two on timely watering while they recover and put in a root.

Sometimes you may find around vines a place where the stem has touched the ground and rooted there. These can be safely separated from the parent and should grow on their own.

Answer 2

yes they can be moved, but make sure you get something in writing stating the fact that you are not responsible for the grapes to grow at her new location!!! or suggest to her that she hire a pro to do it!!

Answer 3

Laurel said it all.  The best way  is to get starts like the vines that have been in the ground and are starting to root.  If you have to dig up mature grape vines it not only is a lot of hard work it is very difficult  to get the root ball as large as it needs to be and it will be extremely heavy.  If the previous owner will wait until next year then you can start as many of the vines as you need to root  and it will be a cinch to dig them and get them to her. I have buried a long vine in two or three places to get it to root.