A guide to pruning grapes in August in the Moscow region for beginner winegrowers
Pruning garden plants is a simple process, but it has many nuances. For example, it is not always clear which vines are superfluous and should be removed. However, there is no doubt about the advantages of pruning. With its help, the vineyard bears fruit stably and gives a rich harvest. When to prune grapes in August and how to care for them after the procedure, we will tell in the article.
The content of the article
Why prune grapes in August
In August, young green vines are covered with brown bark, shoot growth slows down, the lower part of the plant ripens. It is important to seize the moment and start minting and pruning grapes.
The procedures contribute to the fact that the shrub becomes more productive and strong, the quality of the bunches increases... Plants get sick less in the future, less often they are attacked by insect pests. The root and aerial part of the plant develop evenly, making harvesting easier. Pruning is important for grapes of all ages.
Is it obligatory
Pruning in August is a must if the grower wants a healthy and productive vineyard.... You can skip the procedure, most importantly, return to it with the arrival of spring and cut the bushes immediately after the snow melts.
Sometimes the August pruning is replaced with the July pruning, but this is not always useful, especially for early and mid-season varieties, so August is considered the best time for the procedure.
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Pruning goals
Any pruning has a specific purpose. With the help of a rejuvenating procedure, summer residents remove old branches and make room for the growth of new shoots... Such pruning improves the appearance of the vineyard, the bushes look neat and attractive.
It is possible to understand whether a vineyard needs a rejuvenating procedure by several signs: the shrub has stopped developing or its growth does not exceed 15 cm per season. The event is carried out in 2 stages: first, the height of the crown is reduced, and then it is thinned out.
Sanitary pruning aims to strengthen the shrub's immunity after illness or get rid of insect pests... It is held annually in vineyards of all ages. In the process, gardeners remove all dry, diseased and damaged shoots and leaves.
After pruning, the plant must be sprayed with prophylactic agents: a solution of copper sulphate, a preparation "HOM", Bordeaux liquid.
The purpose of formative pruning is to give the crown of the bush a neat appearance and increase the lifespan... Summer residents remove shoots that grow down or to the sides, as well as branches with defects or damage. At the end of the procedure, the diameter of the crown becomes smaller by an average of 1-1.5 m. Conditions are created for the development of new and powerful branches.
Dates of the procedure in August in the Moscow region
In the suburbs and the Moscow region, it is recommended to prune grapes at the end of the month (if we are talking about early varieties) and at the beginning (if medium and late varieties are grown).
The pruning procedure is stressful for the bush, so it is important that it does not coincide with the time of harvest. When choosing a date, they also rely on climatic conditions.The best option is early morning on a cloudy and warm day. Wind, rain and other precipitation on the day of pruning is unacceptable, so it's best to check the weather forecast in advance.
How to prune grapes correctly
In order for grape pruning in August in the Moscow region to be successful, experienced growers advise to prepare the necessary tools in advance and study the step-by-step instructions.
Required materials and tools
For pruning young and green shoots, a flat bypass pruner with two curved blades is required... Such a tool does not deform the shoot, the cut remains flat and heals quickly. It is recommended to cut branches at a slight slope.
If the shoots are old and dry, use a contact persistent pruner. With its help, a dry shoot up to 3 cm thick is neatly cut without damaging the fibers. When choosing a pruner, winegrowers pay attention to the material of the handle and blade. The best option is a steel blade and a thick rubber handle.
A lopper is used to trim thick branches.... Easy to use tools with long aluminum handles. With their help, it is easy to reach the highest vine. It is important that all gardening tools are well sharpened and disinfected with potassium permanganate solution. Blunt blades leave behind ragged cuts, which makes the vines slow to heal and are more susceptible to fungus and viruses.
Step-by-step instructions for pruning grapes
After preparing the tools, gardeners begin pruning the branches.
Step-by-step instructions for beginners looks like this:
- Remove all infected and diseased shoots, as well as weak and thin stems less than 5 mm in diameter.
- Leave only strong shoots more than 1 cm thick on the vine.
- Prune vines to live wood.
- Remove stepchildren and green growth.
- Cut branches growing downward and into the crown.
- Lubricate the cut sites with garden pitch.
A popular question among summer residents: is it necessary to trim the mustache? On the one hand, they provoke the growth of the vineyard, with their help, he clings to the support. But if there is an artificial support, the mustache can be trimmed.
Features of pruning depending on the age of the grapes
If the plant is more than 4 years old, it is recommended to start pruning from the lower tier.... Usually it is there that the most shoots and stepchildren are formed. Gardeners leave up to 15 eyes on the vine, the cuts should be turned inward, and not vice versa. A vine with several buds can be cut, germinated and transplanted to a new location.
Young grapes are pruned from the second year after planting.... Particular attention is paid to ensure that the cuts are made at an angle with a sharp pruner. The young plant has a weak immune system, so it takes longer to recover after the procedure. If you cut the vines with a blunt pruner, the wounds heal slowly, the plant weakens.
Post-procedure care
It is recommended to cut the slices so that they are all on the same side.... If the wounds are uneven, clean them up with a garden knife. Then they are smeared with melted garden pitch - it helps the bush to recover faster and prevents the development of diseases. If the var is not at hand, summer residents use cedar or pine resin. Also, for the processing of grapes, you can prepare the following composition: 5 kg of rotted cow dung + 2.5 kg of slaked lime + 500 g of fine sand.
5-7 days after the procedure, the vineyard is examined... If all the wounds are healed, there are no cracks or other damage, the plants are sprayed with a solution of Quadris or Arrivo preparations. They protect plantings from mildew, scab and powdery mildew. Processing is carried out in dry weather, after watering the bushes abundantly.
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Tips from experienced winegrowers
For pruning to bear fruit, it is recommended that advice and advice from experienced Russian winegrowers:
- cut off shoots in the direction of the upper eye;
- make sure that there is at least 2 cm of living vine above the bud;
- do not cut off diseased bushes - they must first be cured;
- remove inflorescences that have formed during the summer;
- do not leave circumcised stepchildren on the ground - because of them diseases appear;
- if you did not have time to cut the grapes in August, do it in the fall (before the onset of winter).
Conclusion
Pruning is an integral part of grape farming. There is anti-aging, thinning, formative pruning. Thanks to them, the bushes grow strong and productive.
During pruning, summer residents remove diseased, dry and damaged shoots. Such vines no longer bear fruit, but take food from healthy branches. After the procedure, the sections are smeared with garden varnish so that the wounds heal faster. The procedure is carried out annually, starting from the second year of the plant's life.