The Latest Methods and Precautions for Burying Grapevines in Soil for Winter Protection

In winter, the common cold-protection measure for grapes is burying the vines in soil for winter protection. This is a key step in grape cultivation; its purpose is not only to protect the aboveground canes so they overwinter safely, but also to prevent the roots from freezing. However, there are several points to note when burying vines in soil for winter protection. Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below with the editor.

1. Preparatory work

Grapes are a temperate-zone plant and a warmth-loving crop with relatively poor cold tolerance. Generally, minus 17 degrees in winter is the dividing line between burying grapes in soil for overwintering and not burying them. Burying grapes in soil is generally done after autumn pruning and 10-15 days before the soil freezes, that is, when the ground temperature is close to zero but has not yet frozen. Of course, the specific time should be adjusted flexibly according to local weather. Before burying for winter protection, the grapes need to be pruned, the orchard cleaned and disinfected, and the freezing water irrigated and the canes pressed down.

2. Burying methods

There are also many methods for burying in soil. The commonly used one is the direct soil-burying method, which is more suitable for orchards where the winter temperature is not very low and the soil texture is relatively fine. Another method is to first cover with organic matter, then cover with a layer of plastic sheeting or colored strip cloth, and then bury in soil. This method uses less soil and has a high safety factor. At present, most grape-producing areas in our country have popularized mechanical soil burying, but attention should be paid to the spacing between grapevines, and the roots must not be damaged. If it is cold-shed grapes or an area with no severe cold in winter, it is only necessary to deal with cane shriveling, and you can also press soil along the edges of plastic sheeting so that no wind leaks through.

3. Precautions

First, after burying in soil, the mound of soil should be patted firm, and wind leakage must be strictly prohibited. In addition, when taking soil, stay as far away from the roots as possible, generally at least 1 meter away from the root crown, so as to avoid freezing damage to the roots. Otherwise, covering the canes would instead freeze the roots, and the loss would outweigh the gain. When pressing down the canes and burying them in soil, you can place something under the bend of the main trunk to prevent the base from breaking, which would also cause huge losses. Because of differences in region and ambient temperature, the thickness of the soil covering also differs. Moreover, because the cold tolerance of various grape varieties also differs, the thickness of the soil covering should be determined according to local climatic conditions and the grape variety when burying. After burying in soil, check frequently before the soil freezes, with particular attention to the northwest side of the soil mound. After soil is knocked off, replenish it promptly, so that the soil layer does not become too thin and cause the plants to suffer freezing damage.

The above is an introduction to the methods and precautions for burying grapes in soil for winter protection. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.