How to cover grapes for the winter

For a long time grapes have been grown not only in the south, but throughout the country - in the middle lane, in the Urals and in Siberia. But since this is still a thermophilic culture, and the winters in our country are quite serious, in order to protect the vine from freezing and death, it must be thoroughly insulated for several months. How to cover grapes for the winter, what time to do it, what materials are better to use - these are the questions we will try to answer in this article.

How to cover grapes for the winter: what time is it better to do it

how to shelter grapes for the winter

The difficulty in determining the timing of the shelter of grapes is that in this matter one cannot be insured and cover the plant in advance. It can do more harm than good.

In a rainy autumn, under cover, the plant will get wet, cracks will appear on the bark and the likelihood of the death of grapes in this case is greater than during wintering without shelter.

We won't even talk about the southern regions. Winters there are quite mild and it is quite possible to do without shelter. But the climate in the rest of the country - winter weather is either traditionally harsh or completely unpredictable.

If we talk about central Russia, then traditionally the time for sheltering grapes comes in late autumn or early winter. We must carefully monitor the weather forecast and take our time. The vines should be "grabbed" by the first frost, this is a necessary part of the plant cycle, which helps to provide hardening, increase immunity and ripen.

Wait for the rains to end. The average daily temperature should be -4 ... -7 degrees (not lower!). Let the grapes enjoy this weather for four days and then cover it until spring.

In the Urals, it is necessary to pay more attention to the agricultural technology of the plant. Since the climate is more severe, winter comes earlier, and return frosts are more frequent in spring.

Cover the vine in early or mid November when the ground is frozen. But when laying grapes on the ground, first put boards on it so that in spring the plant does not suffer from excessive moisture.

Make sure that the snow cover over the grapes does not fall below 40-50 cm. If necessary, add additional snow. And after the snow melts, for some time additionally cover the grapes with geotextiles so that the buds do not get burned by the hot rays of the spring sun.

In Siberia, only the most stubborn gardeners take on the cultivation of grapes. And of course only strong frost-resistant varieties are planted there.

The probability of the first frost is already in September, so at the beginning of this month it is necessary to prepare trenches and lay in them prepared mulch in order to then lay grapes in them. The top of the trench must be covered with wood shields. And after the snowfalls begin - also cover with snow, the more, the better.

In the spring, there is no need to rush to the opening of grapes, do it not earlier than April.

How to properly cover grapes for the winter. Pros and cons of covering materials

The only problem in this matter is to make a choice in favor of one material, since there are quite a few options. Each option has its own pros and cons, more or less significant.

And I suppose that you can only find the most convenient and suitable way for you by experience.

Earth

how to shelter grapes for the winter

This is the most affordable shelter material.You do not need to buy, collect or specially bring it from somewhere, use the turf from your site.

Prepare the soil in advance - the soil should be dry and not clump together from the autumn rains. When the time comes - lay the grapes and cover with a layer of earth at least 10 cm, and after about 3.5 weeks add another 10 cm on top.

The undoubted advantages of this method can be considered its cost-effectiveness and the availability of the covering material. Some will call it a minus that the land must first be stored somewhere in bags, but this is a dubious minus.

How to cover grapes for the winter with snow

A snow shelter is suitable only for regions with regular snowfalls - a snowdrift on grapes should be no lower than half a meter. First, it will be necessary to lay the grapes on the boards and somehow fix it, and tamp the snow a little (without fanaticism) so that it is not blown by the wind.

Such a shelter does not have to be cleaned in the spring - this is a clear plus. But if suddenly there is a thaw in winter and the snow melts, then the grapes will be without protection.

Straw

Shelter material must be prepared in the summer. The straw should be fresh and very well dried. As in other cases, place the grapes on the boards, and then spread the straw on top with a layer of at least 20 cm.

For a couple of weeks, it “cakes” a little, then you need to add the same amount on top, and fix it with something so that it is not scattered by the wind. As a fastener, you can use a spandbond, or build arcs, and if it has already snowed, then just throw more of it on top.

The advantage of the covering material is its environmental friendliness and breathability, but there is a very serious drawback. Mice can settle in a current shelter in winter. To avoid this, poisonous baits must be placed under the straw next to the grapes.

Slate

Not the most popular material for sheltering grapes, but if you have recently completed construction and have slate sheets left, then they can be used. Dig a trench about 25 cm deep next to the grapes, wrap the vine with spandbond or burlap and put it in the trenches, put slate on top and fill in the earth.

Such a covering material can be used for more than one year and it is very convenient. The only drawback of this method is the absence of slate.

Spandbond

This material can perform with a solo number only in very mild winters. Even in the suburbs, it will have to be combined with additional mulch, let alone the Urals and Siberia.

Therefore, either wrap the vine in a spandbond and cover the top with a lot of snow. Alternatively, proceed as described in the straw section, covering over the mulch with spandbond. In any case, it must be well fixed, since the material is very light and there is a high probability that it will be ruffled by the wind.

The advantages of the material are that it can be used repeatedly. Moreover, it is water and air permeable. But this can also be called a minus - the penetration of moisture can lead to wetting and death of the plant.

So the material is clearly not for harsh winters.

Needles

If there is an opportunity to get hold of spruce branches, then you cannot wish for more. This will be the best protection for the grapes. It is necessary to sketch at least 30 cm of spruce or pine branches on top. That's it, after that you don't have to worry about the vines until spring.

If we talk about the cons - you will have to work hard to get such an amount of spruce branches. Well, the advantages can be listed for a long time: no financial investments, mice will not climb into the needles, no fungal diseases and mold will threaten grapes, thanks to phytoncides secreted by the needles.

How to cover grapes for the winter with dry leaves

The principle of operation is exactly the same as with straw. The foliage must be prepared in advance. It must be completely dry and harvested under healthy trees. Before sheltering, store the leaves in bags in a cool dry place, and after sheltering, cover with a spandbond on top and secure.

Despite the environmental friendliness and availability of the material, it has disadvantages - the same rodents, spring cleaning (the foliage will have to be burned). Well, and the most unpleasant thing is that if, among others, infected leaves come across, they can become spreading infections.

Roofing material

You can use this material to shelter grapes if the climate in your area is mild and there is little snowfall. As well as when covering with slate, it is necessary to make ditches, lay the vine in them, after wrapping it in burlap, and cover with roofing material.

Be sure to leave openings through which the shelter will be ventilated, and periodically lift the cover material for additional ventilation. Actually, this is the disadvantage of this method - the process turns out to be too troublesome.

Sawdust

Regarding the use of sawdust, not all gardeners can come to a consensus, since sawdust absorbs moisture very well, then it can freeze and in this state destroy your grapes. Therefore, in addition to sawdust, you will need a film, which will need to be spread under the vine, then a layer of sawdust and a shield of wood or a sheet of slate on top.

That is, you can use sawdust, but only in the case of a complex shelter, otherwise they will be more harm than good.

Polyethylene film

If we talk about ordinary transparent film, then definitely not, the grapes will definitely die under it. But modern opaque films of light shades or mirror, stretched on arcs, will not allow the vine to heat up and are guaranteed to save it until spring.

The dance of the material will be the possibility of reusability. But you need to very carefully select the material and study the technology of the shelter so as not to destroy the plant.

How to cover grapes for the winter

After you have prepared the plants for winter, having completed all the necessary work, you need to choose one of the covering options. This can be a dry method (more complicated and time consuming, but also more effective) or a conventional one.

Dry option recommended for use in areas with very cold and windy weather, when winter comes immediately and lasts until spring without thaws.

It consists in the fact that the vine must first be wrapped with geotextile or film, and only then lay and use the covering material that you have chosen.

The usual way dispenses with additional wrapping of the vine and is limited only to the use of covering material. It is most optimal for central Russia.

If you have just planted grapes and it has to survive its first winter, then they cover it in the same way as an adult plant, except that a small sprout does not need to be bent to the ground.

From the materials at hand (wooden stakes, chain-link, thick wire) make cones and set them over the grape sprouts. Then fill the space of the cone with the material of your choice (straw, foliage, earth) and wrap the top with spandbond.

Didn't have time - what to do if it snows

As we said, our climate is quite unpredictable, and today's golden autumn may turn into an unexpected winter tomorrow. So if snow falls on wet ground, use the weather forecast.

In any case, you need to bend the grapes and lay them on the boards. If the forecast promises a thaw, then wrap the vine with geotextiles and wait for the snow to melt. And if it is clear that winter has come completely, then pour snowdrifts on the laid grapes and maintain them throughout the winter months.

This year you will not have to choose anymore, all that remains is to control so that the snowdrifts remain at a level of at least half a meter.

Conclusion

We have described ten different material options that can be used to cover grapes and keep them from freezing during the winter months. Agree, there is plenty to choose from?

Some materials can be used alone, some only in combination with each other.But after trying different options, you can definitely choose something for yourself. And perhaps you will invent your own universal method that does not require financial investments and large labor costs.