Being a vineyard owner can be a difficult task. You can have the best location in the world and make great wine, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be successful. When it comes to vineyards, some threats can impact your business.
Vineyards are vulnerable to various threats, including birds, insects, hail, frost, weeds, and diseases. According to FAO estimates, between 20 and 40 percent of global crop production, amounting to around $220 billion, is lost annually.
You have your work cut out to protect your grapevines from all these threats.
Let’s see some of the most common threats you may face in your vineyard and how you can prepare for each one for maximum yield.
1. Birds
Birds are a threat to your vineyard. They eat and peck on your grape blossoms and prevent them from pollinating. The grapes then produce small fruits. So you have to protect your grapes from birds.
Fortunately, there is a way to deter birds and ensure they don’t destroy your vineyard. The best way to protect your grapes is to install vineyard side netting.
The vineyard side netting is;
- A knitted net
- A large mesh net that allows air and light to pass through
- Come in three types.
- Best biological defense against birds because they won’t get caught in the net or get to your vines.
Ensure you buy bird netting from a high-quality manufacturer or supplier. Once you get the net, follow this tutorial video to install your vineyard side netting.
2. Insects
Several bugs and insects seek to invade your vineyard. Insect damage can have a big impact on your production, yield, quality, and, ultimately, your bottom line.
Some of the most common vineyard insects you will likely encounter include
- Yellowjackets
- Hornets
- Wasps
You can use pesticides to control the insects. However, the best environmentally friendly method is installing vineyard insect netting. The vineyard insect netting is strong and comes with an 8 years warranty. Other qualities include
- Longevity – UV stabilized
- Fine mesh with small holes
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Proper light distribution
3. Hail
Hail is a common hazard for vineyards worldwide. The extent of the damage depends on the hailstones’ size, shape, velocity, and quantity.
The damage in regards to hail includes:
- Crushing of the grapes
- Shattering of the fruit
- Marks or dents on the skin
- Rotting and molding of the fruit
Luckily, you can reduce the risk of hail in your vineyard.
By using vineyard hail netting, you can protect your vines from hail damage. The hail netting is placed over your vines in the early spring or at planting time.
You can buy the netting from suppliers in China. Don’t forget to also get some accessories and tools among them:
- Vineyards netting clips
- Vineyard netting machines
- Vineyard wire
4. Wind Damage
Vineyard wind damage comes from high winds that can rip the grapes from the vines. Unfortunately, you cannot do much to prevent this unless you build a tall wall around your vineyard!
There are two things you can do in the event of a windstorm:
You can put up wind barriers to protect your grapevines and reduce their chance of damage. These are made out of plastic sheets that are placed between the vineyard rows. The plastic will break down over time but absorb most of the impact from high winds.
You may also want to consider using windbreak netting to protect your vineyard. Although it may not be as effective as wind barriers, it is less expensive and easier to set up.
5. Frosts
One of the most frustrating and devastating problems vineyards face is frost damage. When temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it can wreak havoc on grape growth.
Frost happens when the temperature drops below freezing causing water in the plant tissues to freeze and expand, splitting the cells in the tissue and destroying the plant.
Install vineyard drape netting to prepare for the frost. The video provides a tutorial on how to do this.
6. Weed Control
Weeds are expected in a vineyard. Some weeds cause problems for grapes. They compete with vines for nutrients and water and harbor pests and diseases.
Vines can be trained to grow high enough or along a trellis to prevent weeds from growing beneath them.
You can also control the weeds by
- Hand pulling
- Mowing
- Discing
- Herbicides
- Combination of these methods
7. Vineyard Diseases
Many diseases can affect the health of your grapevines, or even wipe out an entire vineyard. Signs of vineyard disease may also depend on the type of disease.
For instance, Phytophthora root rot will take years to manifest and often occurs in new vines. Signs may be delayed initially, but if left untreated the vine will quickly decline and die. The signs include:
- Wilting leaves and roots
- Browning leaves
- Dead canes
- Leaf perforations
Another vineyard disease is powdery mildew. This fungal disease spreads quickly through a vineyard if not controlled early on. It tends to first appear on leaves and green parts of the plant before spreading to clusters.
Once the mildew reaches clusters, it might attack the grapes or cause them to ripen too soon, causing the skins to crack open when pressed for juice.
Some diseases can be controlled with fungicides and other simple measures, while others may be more difficult to manage.
Conclusion
No one can completely protect a vineyard from every possible threat. However, preventative practices and measures can minimize or prevent many of these threats, allowing at least some vines to survive. We hope this guide will help you prepare for these and other potential threats to your vineyard… and that you’ll continue to be as protective of your vines.
If you need high-quality vineyard netting, feel free to contact a reliable manufacturer. Eyouagro will advise you on which netting will provide a good growing environment and conditions for your vines.
Contact us at info@eyouagro.com for more information about selecting netting products. We have extensive experience and would be happy to answer your questions.
