How to cover grapes for the winter? How and with what to properly cover the grapes for the winter - all methods of warming and advice Timing to warm the grapes before the cold weather.

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Each gardener uses his own methods of sheltering grapes to protect them from frost. However, when performing work, many mistakes are made, which leads to freezing of the vine or its overheating. Below in this article we will look at how to prepare grapes for shelter for the winter, what material to choose for this and how to cover young and mature plantings.

Before you start preparing young grapes for winter, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety and its features. Among existing varieties There are plants resistant to low temperatures and very sensitive to coolness. In addition, an important factor is the climate of the region where the crop is grown. Based on the information collected, a plan of preparatory measures should be built.

The southern regions are characterized by a mild climate, so frost-resistant grape varieties are not wrapped up for the winter.

The winter hardiness of plants indicates their ability to endure unfavorable conditions. weather during the cold season. All varieties are classified according to this indicator into the following types:

• unstable to low temperatures (do not even withstand frost down to -10 °);
• unstable, able to survive the cold down to -15-17 ° (with the preservation of eyes up to 100%);
• moderately resistant (up to -21°), retaining eyes up to 40-60%;
• with increased stability (up to -25-27°) while maintaining eyes 60-80%;
• highly resistant (up to -27-28°) while maintaining eyes up to 80-100%.

Any grape variety should be prepared for winter, only the list of activities will vary in each individual case. When compiling a list of works, it is worth considering that the roots are more susceptible to freezing than the vine. In the same way, the bush itself tolerates cold in different ways: an age plant has increased resistance, unlike young growth.

In regions with unfavorable climatic conditions, wrapping bushes is considered a necessity, because the indicators often fall below -30 °. Plants cannot do without warming. It is also worth providing for the shelter of the root system of crops growing on sandy soils, where there is a high percentage of freezing of the vine.

How to properly protect a plant

Before we talk about when to harvest grapes for the winter, let's talk about preparation. At the end of the season, a number of activities are carried out aimed at restoring vitality vineyard to ensure survival in conditions of frost and strong winds.

Autumn processing of the vine and preparation for pruning

The first thing that people pay attention to after picking the bunches is the condition of the vine. On a bald shrub, you can easily see all the damage and lesions. The plant at this stage must be processed, even if during the inspection no signs of disease or the presence of insects were found. Spraying will help to avoid the development of various infections, as a result of which the bush does not stand the test in winter and dies.

If serious damage to the branches was not found, then it is enough to carry out preventive spraying with a solution of copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid or urea. If signs of the disease are found, more drastic measures should be resorted to - treatment with chemical preparations.

You should not be afraid of chemistry, because by the time of the next season, all toxic components decompose and are completely removed from the soil. The future harvest will be completely safe. But to save the life of the vine without special means it will be extremely difficult, especially when it comes to mildew or oidium. Popular fungicides include:

• Ridomil;
• Amistar;
• Fundazol and others.

Autumn spraying of plants solves several problems at the same time:

• • increases the immunity of the culture;
  • destroys larvae, harmful microorganisms and bacteria hidden under the bark;
  • localizes the focus of infection;
  • replenishes the deficiency of useful microelements.

Pruning before covering

After the leaves fall (after a couple of weeks), they begin to trim the bushes. The autumn procedure for the plant is less traumatic, because the process of movement of juice along the vine is suspended at this stage. In addition, over the winter, the cut will have time to stiffen.

Pruning of young shoots is aimed at the formation of a bush. For this, a certain scheme is selected. From the vines growing from the ground at an angle, 3-8 sleeves are left. If you perform the procedure annually, there will be no problems with pruning. But with an adult plant you will have to tinker, especially if it has not previously been cleaned and thinned. Following simple rules, even the most neglected shrub can be put in order.

• • • • From perennial sleeves, remove young shoots that have appeared at a height of up to half a meter from ground level. This must be done in the first decade of September.
      • Then the level is cut from 50 cm to 1 m from the ground surface. On all young processes, the tip must be removed (up to 10% of the total length). Side stepchildren are also superfluous on the bush, they should be removed.
      • In the middle of October, approximately when all the leaves fall, you need to choose the most developed shoots (2-3) at a height of up to 1 m from the ground.
      • Cut off the lower process formed from the outer sleeve, retaining 3-4 eyes. Thus, a substitution knot will be obtained.
      • The shoot located on the opposite side is cut off with the preservation of 5-12 eyes. This will form a fruit arrow.

After such pruning, only powerful perennial boles and sleeves with buds will remain on the plant, which in the new season will be thrown out by young shoots and brushes.

Fertilizing, watering and pruning in the garden

Irrigation after harvest is carried out if necessary. Do not water the bushes during heavy rainfall. If the weather spoils with steady heat and dry weather, then it is simply necessary to saturate the soil with moisture. In October, they do only one thing, but abundant moisture. At this point, irrigation work is stopped until the next season.

At the end of the fruiting period, grape bushes are completely emptied, and top dressing nutrients would be very appropriate. The plant needs to gain strength to survive in winter period. In autumn, a young vine is necessarily enriched with organic matter (compost, humus, a mixture of peat and wood ash), an adult culture is fed 1 time in 3-4 years. In feeding, it is important to observe a sense of proportion, with grapes it is better to underfeed than to oversaturate it with various microelements.

At what temperature is shelter needed?

Unstable grape varieties in without fail shelter for the winter protective layer. The same procedure is performed with plants grown in harsh climates. If the vine is not insulated and covered, then the first persistent frosts will cause the death of the plant. Particularly sensitive to low temperatures annual shoots, so they are wrapped, even if the variety is frost-resistant.

Timing to warm the grapes before the cold

Hurry to close the bushes is not worth it. In warm weather, the grapes can resist. BUT humid environment often provokes the development of the fungus. But at the same time, tightening is also unacceptable, because even small frosts are dangerous for unstable varieties. Optimal time defense structures falls at the end of October. But to a greater extent, it is worth focusing on weather conditions, only they indicate the need to speed up the process.

In the northern regions, training is planned for late September - early October. And in the southern part of the country and middle lane the period of preparation for winter falls at the end of October - beginning of November. The main thing is to have time to finish everything before the first frost.

Necessary materials

Along with the usual covering materials, it is recommended to use agrofibre. Thin and light tightly perfectly passes moisture, retains ultra-violet rays. When in contact with plants, there are no dangers; agrofibre does not contain toxic substances, which confirms its environmental friendliness.

One of the advantages of the material is the ability to carry out thermoregulation, even when low temperatures under such a shelter, a positive temperature is established.

The insulation will last more than one season, if you fix it correctly and carefully unpack the grape lash in the spring. And the main advantage lies in the ease of use of the canvas, it is enough to cover the vine and sprinkle everything with soil.

Along with agrofibre, a film is used. There are several options for creating a shelter, but they all require constant supervision and presence. During the thaw, the film material must be slightly opened to ensure air circulation. Otherwise, the grapes can rest.

The essence of creating a shelter is to install a small frame made of thick wire and cover it with polyethylene. This method is suitable for regions of the middle zone, where frosts do not exceed 20 °.

Spunbond refers to modern materials with thermal insulation characteristics.It well passes air moisture. It is used both on the frame and as a wrapping fabric (similar to agrofibre).

Ways to cover whips in winter

There are several ways to cover the vine, which makes it possible to choose the best option.

dry shelter

With this method, the whip is tied closer to the root zone and leans towards the ground (an interval of 10-30 cm is observed). With the help of metal brackets, the position of the vine is fixed. Bottom part plentifully covered with sawdust or dry leaves, and the surface is covered with a film. The edges are tightly reinforced with bricks or stones so that the wind does not blow away the shelter.

Partial closure

This method involves hilling the bushes, and partially wrapping the material of that part that is closer to the soil. This approach is more suitable for the middle zone, where frosts do not fall below 25 °.

Earth insulation

This method is used more often than others. The bottom line is digging a trench and immersing a connected whip into it. In order not to damage the vine and avoid freezing, it is recommended to cover the branches first with boards, and then dig in with soil. The layer thickness should be 20 cm.

The method using powdering with soil is popular due to its simplicity and the absence of additional costs for work.

House way

Covering the house is not difficult. It is also considered a low-cost measure and is used mainly in small farms. To create protection, you will need to prepare shields (150x30 cm), attach loops to them with inside and cover with roofing material for waterproofing.

The essence of the method is to place the vine on the shield, the other two are fixed with loops, forming a triangle. The roofing material is attached from the inside, preventing the penetration of precipitation onto the whip. Advantages of the method: no contact of the branches with the soil, air layer, which arose between the bush and the house.

The main mistakes of beginners

When sheltering a vine, gardeners often make mistakes that can make protection ineffective or lead to the death of a bush.

• • • • Creating a shelter for the vine, the soil is raked out from under the root system of the grapes. As a result, the roots freeze. If the lash needs to be sprinkled with soil, it must be taken in a free area.
      • When fixing the covering material that wraps the vine, make a weak strapping. At the first gusty winds, the protection flies off the branches, leaving the vine without insulation. Experienced gardeners it is recommended, in addition to reliable tying of the vine, to install snow retention - boards made of wood or iron, installed with a peg around the bush.
      • Carried away by the insulation of the vine, many forget about the roots, and they are most vulnerable to low temperatures. Therefore, you need to rake up the soil under the bush, sprinkle dry leaves or peat.
      • Before creating a shelter, the bush does not undergo processing. Under the covering material, insects and bacteria actively multiply, reducing the chances of the plant surviving.
      • Some gardeners lay out a layer of insulation between the soil and the vine. This is a gross mistake, the earth warms the bush. But on the surface, such protection is simply necessary.
      • If you wrap the grapes ahead of schedule or later, then protection will create more problems plant. The optimal period is considered to be the end of October.

Ways to protect against mice and rodents

The vine, laid close to the ground, can become a delicacy for rodents, so it is important to protect and preserve wintering grapes. Gardeners recommend choosing one of the following options.

• • • • Mechanical traps are installed around the perimeter fruit bushes to catch rodents. These can be ordinary five-liter plastic containers or glass bottles to which a little vegetable oil is added.
      • Poisonous chemicals represent the most effective method pest control. Among the popular: Difenacin, Brodifacoum, Flocumafen.
      • Repellers are humane methods of dealing with rodents. The bottom line is to establish containers with a certain substance along the perimeter of the bush, the aroma of which repels mice and rats. Among the well-known smells: kerosene, Vishnevsky's ointment, naphthalene, liquid smoke, etc., which will help save the vines in the garden.

Based on the above recommendations, preparatory work is not difficult, even a beginner can handle it. If you have questions, it is better to seek the advice of specialists. They can not only explain, but also help warm young grapes for wintering in the garden.

Majority horticultural crops require preparation for wintering, since there are always buds on the branches and shoots, waiting for the next growing season to wake up. It is they who are the most vulnerable places of any bush, including grapes, therefore, in order to better cover all the lashes, it is imperative to remove excess processes. It is recommended to do this in two stages, the first of which must be started after harvesting. At this time, you still remember which branches had large clusters, which did not bear fruit at all, where the shoots ripen too slowly. Cut off all shoots that participated in fruiting, as well as empty and least developed. And, of course, those that developed from the buds on the old vine - the so-called spinning tops.

Removing extra shoots from the vine

The second stage of pruning begins immediately before sheltering, when the first light frosts were noted (the vine endures them without harm to itself). At this time, you need to remove those shoots that will not participate in fruiting next year. The scheme for cutting grapes for the winter is very simple, first you need to get rid of those shoots that grow from the vine under the lowest wire of the trellis, located half a meter from the ground. Next, on each sleeve, we leave 2–3 of the strongest shoots growing upwards, and we cut off the branch above the extreme one, and also remove all stepchildren on the processes. Of the two tallest shoots above the second wire, we cut the lower one above the 4th eye, leaving it extreme (we get a replacement knot), and shorten the next one, leaving up to 12 eyes for fruiting next season.

Many gardeners experimentally found the best ones for themselves, based on the climatic features of the area and their own capabilities. We will offer the most proven. If you foresaw the need for shelter even at the planting stage and dug a trench along each row, planting bushes in it, then the lashes can only be correctly laid in the finished groove so that they are below ground level. But even if the vineyard is planted on even hilled ridges of the earth, it will not be difficult to cover the vine and The best way for this - air-dry. It is enough to install low arcs over the lashes laid along the row, cover them with a film and sprinkle with earth.

Before laying the vine on the ground, be sure to place bars or bundles of spruce branches under the branches so that they do not touch the ground.

A bunch of spruce branches under the vine

There is another option, when the bush removed from the trellis is simply sprinkled with soil. However, in no case should it be taken near the grapes, as this can lead to freezing of the roots. It is for this reason that many gardeners do not recommend digging ditches along the rows, unless they are made in advance, before planting the vineyard. However, it is quite acceptable to take soil from row spacing or from any place on the site, as long as it has a low sand content, but that it is sufficiently loose. The main condition for this method is a snowy winter. If the cold is severe in your area, and snow falls infrequently, it is better to sprinkle the vineyard in several layers, alternating soil with leaves or sawdust.

There are others simple ways. For example, if there is no desired material, you can use whatever is at hand. In particular, it is enough to cover the vine laid on the ground with fragments of slate sheets, setting them up with a house, and lay on top what is at hand: pieces of polyethylene, burlap, cardboard and even just paper, then sprinkling with dry leaves. Further, if the temperatures are expected to be really low, you need to add another layer of soil. In the presence of grooves and provided that there is a lot of snow in winter, it is enough to cover the grapes with straw and film, and then cover them with snow.

Before you remove the vine from the trellis, and even before you cut it completely, you need to take a number of measures that will ensure not only the harvest next year, but also help the plant better endure the winter. To begin with, after the first stage of removing excess shoots (as soon as the crop is harvested), be sure to thoroughly water all the bushes to allow the shoots to fully mature. For each bush you will need about 10 buckets of water. Take breaks to allow moisture to soak into the soil. In this case, it is advisable to add a little potassium permanganate (no more than 1 gram) to the first bucket to get a pale pink liquid. This will serve as a prevention of many diseases of the root system.

Watering grape bushes in front of shelter

Now we loosen the soil at the roots, remove weeds so that there is less struggle with them in the spring, and be sure to bring organic and mineral fertilizers. The first will need more, for each plant you need at least 4 kilograms of compost or peat (be sure to mix with the soil) as well as about 2 cups of ash. Of the minerals, 50 grams of superphosphate and 1 gram are recommended. boric acid to the same area. In some cases, it does not hurt to reduce the acidity of the soil with the help of slaked lime, which is also added when digging the soil.

Next, you can trim. It is also recommended to withstand the bushes for several days at a low temperature, this will give them additional hardening in anticipation of winter. The main thing is that the temperature should be kept from -5 to -8 degrees and not fall below -10. Before covering the grapes, it is necessary to treat the vine with a 3% solution of copper sulfate, this will make the lashes unattractive to rodents and insects. Next, remove the bushes from the trellis and lay each vine on the ground in the direction of growth. How to do it right, the video will tell you. Leave the bush in vertical position it is impossible, even well wrapped, it will definitely freeze.

Detailed description of the shelter of the vine

Above, we briefly listed several options for protecting the vineyard from frost. Next, we will consider one of them in more detail. Let's create an air-dry grape shelter for the winter, optimal in the middle lane.

1. Removing the vine from the trellis. Across the ridges we lay bundles of spruce branches or thick timber, you can dry logs or thick branches of trees. We remove the whips from the wire, carefully cutting off the ties, at the same time we examine each shoot, after frosts the tips of some could freeze, we cut them off. Only the stiffened part of the vine needs to be laid for the winter, all green unripe shoots must be removed, they will freeze - this is the main secret of how to properly cut grapes before sheltering for the winter. We stretch the lashes along the rows correctly, from bush to bush on the planted crossbars.
2. We lay covering material. As such, almost any film is suitable, it is desirable that it be dark. It is not necessary to install arcs if you do not have them and there is nothing suitable as an alternative, just put the material on the vine. Next, we press down the edges of the film with bricks or just large stones, you can also add soil. If you lay on arcs, put them more often, in severe frosts, you may have to completely cover the vine with soil, but it will be more convenient to do this if the covering material lies directly on the lashes.

And finally, a few more secrets for a successful wintering of the vineyard. First, you need to give Special attention root: if the vine dies, it will be possible to grow a new one from the trunk, but if the root system freezes, the entire bush will die. Therefore, more soil should be poured around the bush, as well as a thick layer of mulch, at least 5 centimeters. And, secondly, the vine under the film during the thaw can ban, so it is necessary from time to time to lift the covering material and let the bushes air out.

Otherwise, you can lose not only young shoots, but also perennial bushes. So, if in winter it stays around -15 ... -18 0 C for a week, then up to 70% of the eyes may die. With prolonged frosts at a level of -20 0 C, all eyes will die, in some cases the vine of plants will also remain unviable. Professionals identify three main ways to close grapes for the winter. semi- and full cover.

Hilling

The first method is used when it comes to young plantings, preferably

it should be used only on seedlings of the first year of life. Before you start hilling, you must remove all the leaves from the bushes. If it's about suburban area, then this is not too difficult to do, but if you have a large landing, then you can use a 7% urea solution for these purposes. It is also used to disinfect the land and vines before closing the grapes for the winter.

2 weeks after treatment, you can start work on insulation. To do this, an earth embankment is created with a height of 10 to 25 cm. At the same time, you should not dig a trench near the seedlings - their roots can freeze. But do not forget that this method is not suitable for adult plants, because the buds remain open, and they are the first to die during a significant cold snap. Hilling can be used only in the southern regions, where there are no prolonged frosts and sudden temperature changes.

semi-cover

For adult bushes, there are other methods for warming grapes for the winter. In regions where temperatures rarely drop below -20 0 C, semi-shelter can be used. With this method, the lower parts of the bushes are covered with earth, and the shoots are wrapped. For these purposes, fabric and straw are used, creating a layer of at least 3 cm thick on the plants. But it is worth noting that this method protects more from cold winds and drying out of the vine, but it will not help in severe frosts.

Full cover

It has already been verified by many gardeners that it is best to use full cover. True, before closing the grapes for the winter in this way, you will have to cut it, forming right bush, and then bend down to the ground. To do this, all its shoots are tied together in a not too tight bundle and covered with material, straw, unnecessary blankets and insulation that does not allow moisture to pass through (linoleum, polyethylene, roofing material, etc.). Further for the winter is that you need to take care of the created structure. It should not fly apart at the first strong winds. To do this, you can knock down special boxes that will be installed on top of the shelter, or press it with special fixing brackets and fill it well with earth. If you do not have these devices, then the insulation layer can simply be pressed down with bricks or strong boards.

Also, do not forget that there are a number of nuances in how to close the grapes for the winter. With full shelter, keep in mind that the vine should not just lie on the ground, lay a layer of straw, dry leaves or spruce branches. There is also no need to rush to cover the shoots before the first frost, they only harden the vine.

How to cover grapes for the winter and why do it? In the south, this type of plant is grown without shelter. But in the north (in Siberia, beyond the Urals, in Altai) and in the temperate zone (Moscow region, Belarus, in northern Ukraine), where the temperature drops below -15 degrees, most varieties have to be protected from frost. Otherwise, the buds, and even the roots, may freeze, the vine will die. But the covering method of viticulture allows you to cultivate a crop in many regions.

Why shelter grapes for the winter

Sheltering grapes for the winter allows you to grow this crop even in cold areas. Exist different varieties, some are more sensitive to frost, others tolerate rather low temperatures, being satisfied with natural snow cover. According to frost resistance, grape varieties are divided into several types, depending on how many degrees of frost the vine can withstand:

• First category. In frosts - 25-28 ° C, 80-100% of the kidneys are preserved
• Second category. In frosts - 23-27 ° C, 60-80% of the kidneys are preserved
• Third category. In frosts - 18-22 ° C, 40-60% of the kidneys are preserved
• fourth and fifth category. In frosts - 13-17 ° C, all eyes can die.

Even frost-resistant varieties can hardly tolerate a long drop in temperature (over a week or two) to -15-20 ° C. A prolonged cold snap can destroy the entire vineyard. Therefore, winter shelter of the vine in cold climates is always recommended, even if the variety is frost-resistant. If the temperature in the region does not fall below -16 ° C, sheltering the bushes is not necessary. At the same time, it is necessary to protect young seedlings, which were planted this or last year.

The roots of grapes are also very sensitive to cold, even more than the buds. They can freeze if the soil temperature drops below -5-6°C. If the root system is damaged, the whole plant dies. Therefore, when sheltering grapes, it is very important to warm the roots well. If you didn’t cover the grapes well for the winter, didn’t take care of warming the roots, you can lose not only the crop next year, but the entire bush.

Terms and methods of shelter

The timing of the shelter of the grape vine is different, it all depends on the region. In most cases, this is done after the first decade of October. You can not wait for the first frost, the vine may become too dry and brittle. If you cover the grapes in this state, it is easy to damage them. In addition, during frosts, some of the eyes may die, which reduces the chances of a bush for a successful wintering, reduces the yield next year, and makes the vineyard less profitable.

Shelter of grapes for the winter in the Moscow region is carried out in the second half of October. In areas to the south, this can be done even in early November or December. First, be sure to cut the branches. Then preparation is carried out, the vine is removed from the trellis and pressed to the ground. There are many ways to properly cover grapes for the winter. Here are some of them:

• Earth and snow
• dry shelter
• Film.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Once covered with soil, the grapes can withstand very low temperatures, but may succumb during a thaw. The film is also a reliable option, but it can be too hot inside such a greenhouse, and the vine “wakes up” ahead of time. It is better to use geotextile instead of a film.

Fairly cheap options are covering grapes with reeds, straw, fallen leaves, sawdust, slate and other improvised materials. The shelter of grapes in winter with spruce branches has proven itself well. Let's take a closer look at all of the listed methods of sheltering grapes, young and old, the difference between them, the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Covering grapes with earth

Covering grapes with earth is very simple. To do this, the vine is bent to the surface of the soil and well fixed. Land must be taken from row spacing. If it is taken directly from under the bush, the roots may freeze, which will destroy the plant. Then the grooves are covered with fallen leaves and other waste. After a year, they will rot, forming a good compost that can be used for fertilizer.

How to cover grapes with soil in autumn so that they do not freeze. To do this, you need to pour a layer 20-25 cm thick, in cold regions it can be up to 30 cm. If the layer is too thick, the kidneys will rot, and if it is too thin, they will freeze. Before covering the grapes for the winter, it is advisable to treat the vine with fungicides. There are a lot of fungi and bacteria in the soil, they can cause diseases in grapes after covering. In doing so, they use blue vitriol, nitrophoska and other drugs. It is necessary to spray them carefully, use about 400 ml of solution per bush.

So that the branches do not rot, the ground is covered from above with slate or roofing material. You can also use a substrate that will not allow the branches from below to come into contact with the ground. This prevents moisture from entering and allows the vine to better survive in the winter. You can try a simpler option, use reeds or straw. But such a winter shelter for grapes is not very reliable. Organic matter passes water and can itself rot. It is best to cover it with a film after sprinkling with earth, periodically open it for ventilation. If there are no problems with snow, it will perfectly protect the vine, even with minimal shelter.

dry shelter

How else can you cover the grapes, are there other ways? Very often, the so-called dry shelter of grapes is used. With him, the branches are not sprinkled with earth. A small groove is prepared in which the vine is laid. Secure it with various clips. Top cover various materials. Can be used:

• Wooden shields
• wooden boxes
• Slate
• Ruberoid.

Easiest to put on grape branches unnecessary boards, plywood, pieces of slate, laminate. The cracks are caulked with straw or covered with earth. This is where the process ends. This method of sheltering grapes at home for the winter is cheap and does not require much effort. In winter, the shelter is covered with snow, which additionally retains heat.

When sheltering grapes with boxes, a small “house” is built over the vine, which will protect the vine and the entire vineyard from frost. Most often used wooden boxes. But you can replace them with slate, roofing material. Materials are used both this year and next year. Also suitable are special mats made of reeds and straw, bags filled with sawdust, spruce branches or leaves. But such a shelter may deteriorate next year.

Dry winter shelter for grapes has its advantages. There is no risk that with the earth the vine will become infected with diseases, the kidneys will begin to rot. With this method, a more or less uniform temperature is maintained throughout the winter, since air is a good heat insulator. In addition, moisture can get under the shelter, the vine does not dry out, but it does not rot, as under a film. Such a technique also does not require much effort and expense, as well as sheltering grapes in the fall with earth.

Film covering

How to cover grapes in the Urals and other cold areas? There are very good material, which is available to everyone, an ordinary film. It allows you to save the kidneys from freezing even at very low temperatures. In addition, the method is not too expensive. Before you cover the grapes with a film, you need to prepare it - cut it off, remove it from the trellis and fix it at a distance of about 10 cm above the ground. It is also advisable to spray the plant with a polycarbonate solution or other fungicide.

After the vine is ready for shelter, put on top metal arches. You can use wood instead of metal, but it is short-lived. The film is carefully stretched, the edges are sprinkled with earth or pressed down with bricks, stones. Be sure to leave open spaces so that the grapes are ventilated. Sometimes small holes are made in the greenhouse. It is possible in warm weather to open the vine from time to time so that it does not rot and is ventilated. It's good when the film is covered with snow. Then the buds do not break and in the spring almost all bloom.

It is best to use a white opaque film to cover winter grapes. Black can heat up, the kidneys in such conditions prey, begin to develop prematurely. A transparent film for shelter is absolutely not suitable, it heats up as much as black. Sometimes instead of a film they use modern materials- geotextiles, spunbond, cover the vine with isolon. From above, you can sprinkle the vine with spruce branches or reeds, even earth. If the soil does not come into direct contact with the branches, rotting and fungal infection will not occur. Such a shelter for the whole winter will be safe for him.

Other ways to hide

How to cover young grapes in autumn? Seedlings of the first year can be protected with ordinary plastic bottles. The crown is completely cut off, leaving only the trunk, up to 10 cm high. Then they take a bottle, cut off the neck and carefully cover the vine. You can make several holes in the plastic so that the buds do not rot in the seedlings. From above, such a structure is sprinkled with sawdust or straw, you can dig a grape bush with earth. Before covering young grapes in winter, they must be sprayed with fungicides.

How can you cover grapes in regions where winters are not too cold? In the Kuban, in Ukraine, in some regions of Belarus, a partial integumentary technique is used. The upper high-stem part of the bush is left unprotected. The lower, or low-bolt, is covered. Why is this method suitable for warm regions? The fact is that winters there are very different. If the weather is warm, closed eyes die from overheating. When frost hits, the unprotected part can be hit. If you use half-cover, the bush is at least half preserved, the vineyard will not die.

So, we know how to cover grapes, how to do it right, what methods are best. Do not ignore this procedure, even if the varieties are frost-resistant. AT temperate climate winters are different, unexpected frost can kill the vine. Detailed step by step description can be seen in the photo, and even better in the video. The rules for sheltering for wintering are simple, accessible even to beginners, and allow you to save the entire vineyard in the cold season. The time spent on shelter will return a hundredfold. Like good care This procedure improves productivity.

As you know, this culture prefers warm climatic conditions. In regions with a cool climate, grapes grow very poorly, and even worse, they endure any temperature fluctuations. However, this prevents many gardeners from growing such a crop in conditions of rather severe frosts. Even in Siberia, you can enjoy these sweet fruits from your suburban area, if you know how to cover the grapes for the winter in the Moscow region and other cities of the country.

Why is it necessary

Of course, for growing in regions where cool temperatures prevail in winter, special varieties of this crop are used that can withstand up to -30 degrees. However, this does not mean that such plants are not sensitive to spring frosts. Before you figure out how to cover the grapes for the winter, it is worth considering the fact that even the most frost-resistant plant needs appropriate care and the necessary temperature regime.

If a grape variety is among the most resistant, this does not mean that it will also tolerate weather surges just as well. As soon as the temperature outside rises, the plants weaken their hardening, so night frosts can be detrimental to them. In addition, it is worth considering the sensitive root system grapes. If the earth freezes to a temperature of -20 degrees, then there is a huge risk that the culture will die without having pleased the gardener with a harvest of delicious berries.

Before sheltering grapes for the winter in central Russia or colder regions, preparatory measures must be taken.

How to prepare a plant

Regardless of the type of shelter chosen, before installing it, you must:

• Perform pruning to form young bushes, and also do not forget about the annual autumn pruning fruitful vineyards.
• Get rid of all fallen leaves. If left on the ground, it will begin to rot and spread an infection that can be fatal to the plant in frosty conditions.
• Tie the cuttings of the vine with a rope or wire.
• Treat the plants with a 3% solution of iron sulphate. To do this, 350 g of the composition must be diluted in a bucket of water.
• Tied vines neatly lay out along the rows.

If we talk about how to properly cover the grapes for the winter, then there are several effective ways which will help protect the plant from bad weather and extreme cold. Let's consider them in more detail.

Snow

This type of shelter is considered the simplest and most accessible to everyone. However, this method of frost protection is not suitable for every region. The principle of hiding is that vines covered with a natural natural "blanket".

This will require U-shaped brackets. With their help, it is necessary to fix the vines on the ground. After that, it is enough to wait until nature takes its toll. Snow is a great shelter for grapes for the winter. A 30 cm layer is enough to reliably protect the plant. However, in this case, you need to be sure that snow will fall constantly during the winter. If a thaw comes and the vines are exposed, they can die very quickly. In the middle part of Russia temperature regime is constantly changing, so this type of plant protection is not suitable.

But if we talk about how to cover grapes for the winter in Siberia, then this method is considered universal. In this region, temperature fluctuations are rarely observed, so the snow cover will reliably protect the plant throughout the winter.

spruce branches

This method of shelter is also one of the simplest. In this case, you also need to fix the vines near the ground. They can be twisted into rings around the base of the vine itself. After that, it is enough to cover them with spruce branches. Its thickness directly depends on how severe the winter is expected.

However, reliability this method raises doubts. This method of shelter is only suitable for young plants, since to get required amount spruce material is very difficult. To do this, you have to spoil a lot of trees. Therefore, it is most convenient to go to where the deforestation takes place and collect right amount material.

Shelter with earth from the aisle

This method is also quite simple, but it will require a lot of time and effort. Before you cover the grapes for the winter, you need to dig a trench along the vine rows. Its depth should be at least 20 cm, and the width will depend on how thick the bunch of vines is. After that, it is necessary to lay out the vines in the trench and cover them with earth, which is taken from the aisles.

After that, over the grooves, you need to create bulk earthen ramparts, the height of which will be at least 15 cm. This will help protect the vines of the plant from severe frosts. Among the advantages of such a shelter, it is worth highlighting its cheapness. However, this method also has a number of disadvantages:

• If the winter is mild and the temperature fluctuates frequently, there is a great risk that the kidneys may be partially or completely damaged. The fact is that they can start to spit during a thaw, because of this they die.
• This method of shelter is not suitable for areas where active spring floods are observed.
• During the fence of land from the aisles, the rhizomes of the grapes are exposed. This is permissible only under the condition of snowless winters.
• When digging vines in spring period there is a high chance of damaging the vines.

Therefore, before you cover the grapes for the winter in the Moscow region or another region, you should pay attention to the nuances described above.

dry shelter

Gardeners consider this method the most reliable for protecting plants in the winter. The principle of this method lies in the fact that bunches of vines are pressed to the ground and covered with several layers of heat-insulating and moisture-proof material. Straw, spruce spruce branches can act as a heater, wood chips And so on. However, it is not recommended to use the foliage of fruit trees as a covering material, as they contain bacteria and fungi.

As waterproofing material you can use an opaque film, roofing felt, linoleum, rubber or slate.

However, before you cover the grapes for the winter with this method, it is worth considering that in this case you will have to spend a certain amount of money. However, most materials can be found on any suburban area. Also, be sure to leave air. If the shelter is not ventilated, the plants may begin to rot. Also, do not allow condensation to form under the film material.

Time and timing

Speaking about how to cover grapes for the winter, it is worth determining exactly when this procedure needs to be performed. On this score, the views of growers are very different. Some experts believe that these measures should be carried out long before the onset of cold weather. Others are sure that it is impossible to cover the grapes until the air temperature drops to -5 degrees.

In this case, before you cover the grapes for the winter, you need to assess the situation and try to find the so-called golden mean. For example, if the vine is well matured, then its buds will be distinguished by increased endurance and resistance to frost. Even the most tender grape varieties can withstand up to -14 degrees without any protection. However, if the vines are not ripe, then they will be more defenseless. In this case, you need to equip protection a little earlier.

Before you cover the grapes for the winter, it is also worth remembering that with the onset of the first cold days, certain biological processes occur in the vines, which can be compared with an increase in human immunity. Such hardening will help the plant to endure frosts more steadfastly in the future. Therefore, it is not worth creating a shelter too early.

If the vines and buds are not mature enough, then most likely they are sick or too young. In this case, it is recommended to take shelter measures before the onset of severe cold weather.

Rookie Mistakes

Many novice growers do not always produce plant protection correctly. Most often they make the same mistakes:

• The preparatory process is neglected.
• Choose wrong method shelter, which is not suitable for a certain region of the country. It is important to take into account all the features of the suburban area.
• Incorrectly calculate the timing of the shelter of the grapes.
• They create too tight shelters that do not allow the necessary amount of air to pass through.
• Lay insulating material between the vines and the ground. The fact is that the soil is the only source of heat in winter. If insulation is laid between the ground and the plant, the vines can freeze.

Other ways to hide

In addition to the methods described above, there are more options that can be used to protect grapes. For example, some gardeners build a kind of shelter out of old boards and other lumber. Inside it is sheathed with fiberglass, geotextile, roofing material or other materials. After that, the vines are laid in shallow trenches or pressed to the ground. It is enough to install the shields with a "house". From above, you can cover them with polyethylene.

If there is no lumber, then we cover the grapes for the winter in central Russia with the help of slate. The vines must also be placed in trenches and then covered with protective material. Some gardeners make impromptu houses out of slate.

Also, over the grapes, you can build arches covered with polyethylene. Such a greenhouse will help to keep the plant in the winter. However, the height of the arches must be at least 30 cm.

Finally

Based on the foregoing, it is obvious that grapes can grow even in the harsh conditions of Siberia. To do this, it is enough just to organize the necessary protection for the winter period. Knowing all these subtleties, you can enjoy delicious berries from your site.