When and how to cover grapes in autumn
To get a harvest, you need to take care of the grapes throughout the year. Proper preparation of the plant for winter is especially important.
One of the important stages of this preparation is covering the grapes for the winter.
An expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", agronomist and landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh told when and how best to cover grapes in the fall.
Preparing grapes for winter begins in mid-autumn, when the leaves begin to fall.
The optimal time for covering grapes is the first half of October, when the temperature drops to +5 degrees overnight. Covering is necessary before the onset of permanent frosts.
Before covering the grapes, you need to prepare the plant. Cut off all the leaves and pinch the bush to the support.
Remove all pests and dried berries. Then trim the grapes to the level of low shoots and leave 3-4 stalks on which the berries are located.
Various materials are used for shelter:
1. An old mattress or wooden box filled with leaves and dry grass.
2. Towels or blankets folded in several layers.
3. Special covers made of non-woven material.
Cover the grapes tightly to prevent frosty air from getting inside.
Don't forget to secure the covering so that it doesn't get blown away by the wind. It should be noted that if severe frosts are rare in your area, covering the grapes may not be necessary.
This is especially true for the southern regions, where winters are not very severe.
Thus, covering grapes in the fall is a very important procedure that helps protect the plant from frost and other unfavorable winter conditions.
