Protecting the future harvest, or how to properly cover grapes for the winter without effort and hassle

In most of the territory of our country, as well as in Ukraine and in the Republic of Belarus, the winter period is characterized by negative temperatures, as well as all those attributes that define a real winter: snow, blizzards, thaws, strong winds, snow adhesion and ice freezing. The grapes are of southern origin. Most of the varieties we cultivate are of Mediterranean origin and do not tolerate frosts below -10 ° C, not to mention all the unfavorable factors. As part of today's review, we will tell you how to properly cover grapes for the winter, when it is better to cover and what materials.

Italian vineyards are renowned for their beauty

Shelter grapes for the winter and why spend it?

Shelter procedure consists in carrying out several operations with a grape bush:

• it must be pruned from all excess and green unripe vines;
• removed from the support;
• grapes in late autumn are sprayed with a solution of ferrous sulfate against the wintering stages of diseases and pests;
• after a while, the shoots are folded into a ring, pinned to the ground and directly covered with some material.

Shelter of grapes for the winter is designed to protect the bush from the effects of negative temperatures, freezing of ice on the vines and, thus, damage to fruit buds.

When and what kind of shelter is needed

Central Russia is characterized by warm and humid summers, but winter weather can be very changeable. Frosts below -20 ... -30 ° C are followed by periods of thaw with cold blowing winds. Only a reliable shelter can protect against such cataclysms.

There are several reasons to cover grapes with a gardener from the middle lane:

• protect from the first frost if the snow cover has not yet formed;
• help the plant survive temperature changes;
• protect from severe frosts, leading to cracking of the bark, freezing of the root system and buds;
• to prevent grapes from damping out during the melting of snow and too early awakening of the buds.

The main task of the shelter is to ensure a stable temperature regime.

Features of grapes

The decision on the need for shelter and the choice of material depend on the variety and condition of the grapes:

1. Varieties with low frost resistance will not even tolerate -10 ... -12 ° С, therefore, it is imperative to organize reliable frost protection for them.
2. Young plants with insufficiently thick bark, as well as bushes from which a bountiful harvest was collected, need full-fledged shelter. They have given up most of the nutrients, therefore, they are vulnerable to external factors.
3. The most careful care is required for grapes weakened by pests and diseases, since at low temperatures it is difficult for such bushes to remain viable.

Degree of protection

When determining the degree of protection, the following factors are taken into account:

• weather conditions of the region, the presence of stable snow cover;
• the relief of the area where the garden plot is located (hill or lowland);
• protection of grape plantings from the winds.

In most cases, a winter shelter should:

• provide a constant temperature, that is, prevent hypothermia and too high temperatures;
• do not interfere with air exchange;
• create an optimal level of humidity.

Shelter timing

In the middle lane, grapes are sheltered in mid-November. However, the gardener can determine the optimal time on his own, guided by the following signs:

• maturation of wood near the vine - the bark becomes brown;
• complete fall of foliage;
• the onset of persistent cold weather down to -5 ° С.

An important condition for the successful wintering of a plant is the construction of a shelter in dry weather with slightly frozen ground. This will help prevent the lashes from heating up and subsequent cracking of the bark.

Reference. It is advisable to pre-harden adult healthy bushes - to withstand the vine from several days to a month with low frosts (up to -5 ° C). This facilitates the outflow of nutrients from the aboveground organs to the roots of the plant.

How to cover grapes for the winter and what will happen if you do not?

After the vines are cut, removed from the support, treated with chemicals and pinned, it is necessary to create insulation for the bushes. It is good if there is a layer of air between the shoots and the covering material. In this case, there will be no processes of sweating, accumulation of condensate, and therefore the development of fungi. On the other hand, there is a danger of rodents penetrating under the shelter, which are very fond of nibbling the vine. If an increased activity of rodents is observed in the fall, then anti-mouse drugs (acaricides) should be scattered before the shelter. These remedies do no harm to the vine.

When covering the grapes, leave a layer of air, this will protect the vine from the development of fungi and damping off.

Types of vines shelter:

• on the surface of the soil;
• in the trench.

The types of shelter directly depend on the method of cultivation - in trenches or on the surface in individual ridges, in rows, with the arrangement of high ridges and borders for them.

If the shelter is not carried out, then there is a high probability of damage to the vines by low temperatures. Even short-term frosts below -10 ° C are enough to lose the crop of your favorite variety. Damage to the wood significantly delays the development of the bushes in the spring, they are weakened and may even die during the summer. If the roots of the grapes have suffered from frost, then in the spring there will be no signs of growth, the plant will remain dry and lifeless.

Choosing the timing of the shelter of grapes

It is important to do it on time. If you cover the bushes earlier, the buds may die from damping or get sick with fungal diseases. In autumn, there is an active process of accumulation of nutrients in the roots of grapes. They will help the plant withstand all winter hardships. Therefore, every day is important - you should not rush to cover. In practice, the signal for its beginning is the first frost on the soil.

A warning! Don't expect severe frosts.

The weather is unpredictable, the unheated roots of the grapes will freeze out before you cover them.

To successfully overwinter, the vine needs to undergo natural hardening. Its initial stage falls for the period when the temperature is in the range from +10 to 0 degrees. The final stage is for a period when the temperature is kept within the range from 0 to -5 degrees. The duration of each is at least a week. The transition to new conditions of existence should take place gradually, so as not to cause stress in plants. This is another reason not to cover the vines ahead of time.

At what temperature to cover grapes for the winter

When deciding at what temperature to cover grapes for the winter, it is important to observe the course of average daily air temperatures in autumn. The transition of the average daily temperature through + 5 ° С is a signal of preparation for shelter. At this time, the vines already need to be cut and processed. Further shelter operations must be carried out when the temperature goes over 0 ° C. The deadline for a shelter is at the onset of persistent frosts -1 ... -2 ° С.However, it must be remembered that at low temperatures the vines become brittle, and they can be damaged even with slight bending.

To prepare for the shelter of grapes, you need to start at a temperature of +5 ° С

What temperature can grapes tolerate without loss?

If you do not take into account the not so many grape varieties that can not freeze even at -30 degrees and below, the temperature from -18 to -25 for the vine is considered critical, the specific numbers depend on the variety. Freezing of the soil below -7 degrees is dangerous for the roots of grapes.

Grapes are not only afraid of very low temperatures. No less destructive for the vine and its sharp vibrations. A prolonged thaw can trigger the process of the plant emerging from dormancy. Such grapes are capable of perishing even at temperatures that are much higher than the critical one.

Preparing grapes for shelter

In areas where autumn is dry and prolonged, the grapes require water-charging irrigation before sheltering. It is carried out about two weeks before the shelter, somewhat more in volume than ordinary watering. Moisture should significantly saturate the soil layer of at least 1.5 m.

In the northern regions where grapes are grown, as a rule, there is no natural fall of leaves - the frost strikes earlier, and the leaves, fettered and lifeless, remain hanging on the vines. In this case, they need to be cut off with a pruner during autumn pruning, then removed from the site with a rake and burned. A tick (itch) can persist on them, which does not cause much harm to plants, but significantly spoils the appearance of the bush.

So, let's figure out how to cover the grapes for the winter, taking into account the technology of growing bushes and the type of shelter.

Preparing the vine for wintering

Oddly enough, it begins in the spring. The shelter removed in time will save the plants from spring return frosts, thereby allowing the grapes to retain all their strength for flowering, harvest formation and vine ripening. Agrotechnical techniques, carried out on time and in full, also contribute to this.

Attention! Do not neglect crop rationing.

Too much stress on the bush can significantly weaken the vine.

One of the conditions for successful overwintering is the complete ripening of the vine. No matter how the unripe shoots of grapes are covered, it will not be possible to preserve them in winter. Therefore, you need to take care of this in advance. There are grape varieties in which by autumn all the shoots ripen completely, even without the participation of the grower. The rest will have to take care of and pinch all the green shoots back in August in order to achieve their full ripeness before frost.

There are a number of important activities that need to be done before the frost starts:

• dry land freezes much more strongly, therefore, water-charging watering of grapes in autumn is mandatory, the earth must get wet to the entire depth of its roots;
• top dressing with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers in September will make the bushes more frost-resistant, allow the vines to ripen faster;
• after leaf fall, cut out all unripe shoots, in accordance with the rules for forming a bush;

  
  be sure to leave 2-3 spare buds on each shoot, carry out pruning only at positive temperatures, otherwise the vine becomes fragile and breaks easily. First-year bushes are not pruned.

• treat the grapes with antifungal drugs, for example, copper sulfate according to the instructions;
• remove the vines from the trellises and tie them into loose bunches.

Advice! Be sure to remove all fallen leaves, pests and pathogens can hibernate in them, all uncollected bunches of grapes must also be removed.

The covering material also requires preparation: it is disinfected, the worn out is thrown away and a new one is purchased.

Vineyard hiding methods

If the bushes grow in a trench, the sides of which are lined with bricks, boards, slate or some other material, then it is not difficult to cover the bushes. The best option for shelter is wooden shields, which, like tight covers, fit to the sides of the trench. If the winters in the region are harsh, then wooden shields can be additionally covered with cellophane, roofing felt, old linoleum on top. Such a shelter looks like a box. Inside it, under a wooden shield, there is an airspace, and the bushes are not afraid of damping.

The best option for sheltering the grapes is in a trench tightly covered with a wooden shield.

The shields can be used for several years in a row, the covered trenches in the form of standard identical boxes are aesthetically pleasing, the bushes remain clean from the ground.

Another way to cover the grapes is to cover each bush with some kind of material. If a harsh winter is expected, then earth is thrown over the covering material.

Uncovered vineyard in winter

The table below shows the main types, methods and materials for sheltering grapes:

We choose the right time

Answering the question of when to cover the plant for the winter, it is difficult to name a specific date, then mid-October is considered the most favorable choice. For successful wintering grapes need to provide "air-dry" shelter. Wait for a dry day, check that no parts of the plant are wet, and start hiding. For this purpose, following simple rules is suitable.

1. Coniferous dry spruce branches, for which the grapes are tied, pinning with special hooks (more about the method below). Having done the necessary steps, you need to cover the entire bed with a layer of spruce branches, cover it with a dry sheet and cover it with boards, roofing material or plastic wrap.
2. Reed mat. Experienced growers often use mats woven from dry reeds to shelter grapes in the Middle Strip. The advantage of the method is that you can choose any length and width, while maintaining only a thickness of 7 cm.However, the advantages do not end there, because the structure covered with a film allows you to completely isolate the grapes from severe frosts with the onset of winter, and also give a stream of fresh air in the spring. This approach does not allow the vine to freeze, dry out, deteriorate. You also need not be afraid that young grapes will rot or be spoiled by mice.
3. A special board box on which the vine is laid. After the grapes are correctly and neatly laid, they are covered with dry fallen leaves or, again, spruce branches. Slate or boards are placed on top of the box. The structure is covered with foil or slate.

Having chosen any shelter, do not let things go by themselves. It is important that the cover is covered with a sufficient layer of snow. A layer of snow can raise the standard ground temperature. The "atmosphere" created there contributes to the warming of the plant and the earth. Grape shelter options

It is necessary to cover the grapes in winter immediately after the beginning of the first frost. Initially, it is important to subject the vine to preliminary hardening: it is enough to leave the vineyard uncovered for several days (make sure that the temperature does not drop below 10). The hardening of the grapes helps the vine acquire a light brown color, which makes it mature. Tempering allows the vine to be stored until spring.

In order to protect the plant and shelter it from the changeable climate in the middle lane, growers have long begun to use shelters. The start of preparatory work falls on October, when the plant has already suffered frosts. Before covering the grapes, it is important to properly and accurately prune the bush by treating it with special means against pests and diseases. In the northern regions of Russia, where a thick layer of snow always appears in winter, the plant is covered by keeping it on a trellis until the first precipitation. After the snow has fallen, the grapes must be tilted to the ground, covered with snow. Regions with a less stable climate and little snowy winters are subject to a different type of shelter.

Disinfection of covering material

Plant materials used for insulation can carry fungi, mites, scoops and other pests. If there are no other materials for sheltering the vines, then the plant materials should be disinfected. To do this, the tops, branches should be prepared in advance - they should be laid out on the ground so that it is convenient, sprayed with solutions of a fungicide and a pesticide. After processing, the material must dry.

When processing the covering material with pesticide solutions, it is necessary to observe precautions - work in a respirator and gloves.

How to cover roses for the winter in the Volga region. How to cover roses in Siberia for the winter - 3 best ways

A luxurious rose garden or small flower beds are the pride of every gardener. Roses are grown in almost all regions of our country. And even in Siberia, despite the frost. After all, the main thing is to know how to properly care for this beautiful flower, including how to send your favorite beauties to winter.

Shelter dates for roses for the winter

Many gardeners rush to cover their roses after the first snow that has passed. It is not right. It is necessary to wait for a stable sub-zero temperature. According to experts, the optimal time to shelter roses is when the daytime temperature remains at -5 degrees during the week without warming.

Thus, you eliminate the following problems:

• resumption of growth of roots and shoots,
• warming up shoots,
• decay of the plant due to high soil moisture.

And contributes to:

• the correct introduction of roses into a state of winter dormancy,
• hardening of the ground part of roses and roots.

Basic rules for hiding roses in Siberia

Roses are sheltered in dry, sunny weather after pruning. The main success of a good wintering in Siberia is the dry shelter of roses for the winter. There should be no moist soil and damp needles. In this case, the roses will be reliably protected from the reproduction of pests, mold and rot.

Almost all varieties of roses do not throw off the foliage themselves. Therefore, all leaves from the bushes must be torn off or cut off. This will smoothly bring the roses to a dormant state and, most importantly, prevent the plants from possible foci of infection.

Processing roses before shelter for the winter

Before the shelter, it is necessary to decontaminate their above-ground part. Spray the trunk, shoots and roots with copper oxychloride, Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate or iron sulfate. Thus, you will disinfect the bark and prevent diseases, including scab and powdery mildew.

It is worth mentioning what not to do. Experts do not advise using fallen leaves when sheltering, even dry ones, as there may be an infection on their surface or in the sinuses. It is also not recommended to use sawdust and straw, which attract mice to roses.

Types of shelter roses for the winter

There are 3 main types of shelter:

1. Prikopka. Around the stems to a height of 40 cm, the soil is earthed. It turns out an earthen mound. The upper parts of the shoots are covered with spruce branches - pine or spruce branches. Some gardeners bury roses completely, this is permissible.When a crust forms on the spruce branches, a kind of coniferous hut for a rose is obtained.

2. Air dry shelter. With this type of shelter, the bush neatly bends to the ground in the direction where the roses fit freely.

Further, the roses are lined with spruce or pine branches, which give warmth and provide air access to the plant after shelter.

Then the bush is covered with a breathable covering material - geotextile, spunbond or lutrasil, which is pressed with stones around the perimeter. If you have several bushes nearby, build a common shelter for them of this type.

3. Wrapping. This type of shelter is used mainly for tall roses. The wrapping begins with hilling the roots. Then each bush is wrapped with breathable heat-insulating material, folded in 2 layers. It can be geotextile, spunbond, lutrasil. Fasten the material well at the bottom to keep cold air out.

4. Special shelter for plants. Outwardly, it resembles a triangular hut and is a kind of winter house for roses.

Convenient to use, easy to install - just insert the frame into the ground, does not require additional devices.

Creates a voluminous breathable space inside with air spaces that retain heat and prevent overmoistening of the stems. The material itself is excellent for air permeability, dries quickly, does not damp and does not rot.

When to remove the shelter of roses

Opening roses in spring in time is just as important as covering them for the winter. It is not necessary to open it too early so that they are not hit by recurrent frosts, and too late so that the roses do not come out.

Roses that have wintered under cover are opened gradually, starting with airing. The structure of the dug-in roses is removed when the soil begins to thaw so that the melting snow does not provoke the shoots to dry out.

It is necessary to open it in cloudy calm weather, shading for 5-10 days to prevent spring sunburn.

Dear gardeners! Now you know how to create the right conditions for your roses to successfully winter, and in the new season you will enjoy the rapid flowering and delicate scent of your favorite flower.

"My Garden" (Metallurgov Ave., 9),

“Dachny Mir” (Kurtukovo village, Zorkina st., 58A).

How to shelter young grapes for the winter

Many gardeners, not knowing how to cover young grapes for the winter, cover it in the same way as older bushes. However, there are some peculiarities here. You should start preparing young plants for shelter for the winter in advance, back in August. At this time, all watering should be stopped, the tops of the shoots should be cut off so that their wood begins to coarse and, thus, prepare for the harsh period.

The second point is that autumn pruning is not carried out. All shoots that have formed over the summer are rolled up in a ring, pinned to the ground and covered in a trench with a wooden shield or on the soil surface with a covering material.

Common mistakes

Novice gardeners often make mistakes in organizing a winter shelter for grapes. Some of them:

1. They cover too late and the fruit buds freeze. Warm the grapes as soon as the thermometer drops to -5 ° C.
2. They are in a hurry with shelter, and the grapes do not have time to harden. Leave the lashes bare at the first frost to prepare the wood for winter.
3. They act on the principle "the more the better", unnecessarily wrapping the vine. To keep the grapes from budding in artificial conditions, provide them with a dormant period - avoid excess heat and moisture.
4. Do not ventilate. To avoid drying out, during the period of long thaws, lift the film from the shelter, and it is better to take care of breathing out in advance.
5. Leave the vine insulated for too long. Immediately after the snow melts, start the spring hardening of the grapes - remove the shelter for several hours, gradually increasing this interval.

The nuances of sheltering grapes depending on the region

The temperature limit of "strong" and "weak" shelter should be considered a mark of -10 ° С. If the region does not fall below -10 ° C, then the covering grape varieties can be removed from the support and slightly covered with what is at hand. In regions where the temperature in winter is often below -10 ° C, grapes require good shelter.

How to shelter grapes for the winter in the suburbs

In the Moscow region, many gardeners refuse to arrange trenches for grapes due to the accumulation and stagnation of water in them. In this case, it must be covered on the soil surface with the help of a covering material, which is compacted from above with slate, wooden boards, and drywall. The most important determining parameter when to cover grapes for the winter in the Moscow region is the average daily air temperature. It should be at a level of -1 ... -2 ° С. In terms of time - this is approximately at the end of September.

Leningrad region

There are also many areas of waterlogging in the Leningrad region, where in early spring snow does not melt for a long time and melt water stagnates. For such plots, on the contrary, drainage plots are prepared, on which grape bushes can subsequently be planted. For the winter, the shoots are covered with spruce branches, on top is a layer of agromaterial, which is compacted with wooden shields or slate.

How to shelter grapes for the winter in the Kuban

Most of the varieties cultivated in the Kuban do not need winter shelter. In each case, the issue of shelter is decided based on the conditions of the microclimate of the site. If the vineyard is located in a lowland where cold air accumulates, then it is likely to need additional light shelter.

How to shelter grapes for the winter in the Volga region

The Volga region from Astrakhan to Nizhny Novgorod belongs to the territories with a sharply continental climate. There are hot summers and severe frosty winters, often without snow. In the Volga region, all varieties, except for winter-hardy ones, need strong shelter.

Shelter of grapes for the winter in the Middle lane

In Central Russia, a significant amount of snow falls in winter, and this is favorable for overwintering grapes. For the bushes, a shelter of spruce and pine spruce branches is arranged, which is covered with wooden shields from above. Snow falling over the shelter reliably insulates the entire structure.

How to shelter grapes for the winter in the Black Earth Region

Chernozem soils, regardless of their type, do not reflect the sun's rays with a small amount of snow. In snowless winters during the day under shelter, the temperature can rise significantly, which leads to the accumulation of harmful condensation. In this region, shelter is excluded with materials that do not allow air to pass through - film, roofing material, linoleum. It is enough to cover the bush with agrofibre, and throw a small layer of light soil on top.

Shelter of grapes for the winter in Ukraine

In the south of Ukraine, grapes do not need shelter. In more northerly regions with snowless winters, grapes need to be covered. Trench cover with wooden shields is most suitable.

Types of winter protection

There are several methods of shelter, the choice of which in the vast majority of cases depends on the area. It is one thing if you need to shelter grapes for the winter in the Volga region, and you should act completely differently when you need to take care of the warmest wintering of shrubs in the cold Siberian land.

In warm regions, hilling and semi-covering of vineyards is most often practiced, while in cold regions with severe, prolonged winters, it is customary to completely cover plants using various improvised means. But before you start laying, you should familiarize yourself in more detail with the features of all the listed methods with which you can close the vine for the winter:

1. Hilling, which is also called okoloshtambovy dribbling, is practiced in the warmest latitudes without carrying out preparatory pruning of the vine.In this case, all the branches of the grape bush are collected into a single bunch, bend as close as possible to the ground, first placing a plywood or slate sheet under the bottom, and add it dropwise, covering not only the lower part of the formed stem, but also the head of the bush itself. The height of such a mound should fluctuate in the range from 10 to 25 cm, it is recommended to take the soil from the available row spacings.
2. A semi-shelter is ideal for areas with warm, short winters, as it means burying only the bottom of the plant and covering the top with film or any other frost-resistant material. In this case, it is not necessary to lay the grapes with a stem. The thickness of its upper sealed layer should not exceed five centimeters, which will help to avoid the formation of a kind of greenhouse effect.
3. Full wrap is practiced in the coldest latitudes. In this case, it will not be possible to simply dig in the bush at the base, because there is a high probability of the death of its upper part under the influence of severe frosts. Only complete pruning, gathering in a common bunch and maximum bending to the soil will help to save the plant. After the manipulations done, the grapes are covered using all kinds of materials and tools.

The choice of shelter also depends on the climatic characteristics of the region in which the vineyard is grown. Currently, they are used in practice 3 ways to wrap grapes, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:

1. In regions with abundant atmospheric precipitation, snow is used as a covering material, because under its dense infusion, grapes can perfectly survive the cold. Weak plants and young growth are an exception. They need special care with the use of additional shelter materials.
2. An alternative to sheltering with snow is burying earth from the rows, which is used most often because of its simplicity, reliability and maximum savings in money and time resources.
3. A dry shelter involves the use of additional materials, among which it is worth highlighting slate and plywood sheets, all kinds of cardboard boxes and other improvised means. In this case, the bush is laid on top of the film, sprinkled with dry foliage, which helps to preserve heat, and covered with a material from which a kind of gable roof is formed.

What will the shelter protect from?

Winter insulation contributes to the health of the grapes and their high yields:

• the vine retains all the nutrient composition necessary for productivity under the bark;
• the bark itself does not freeze and does not crack;
• the negative factors affecting the immunity of the plant are reduced.

In winter, this culture is dormant. Frost-resistant varieties that are recommended for growing in the middle lane, the Volga region and cooler places, as a rule, are able to withstand temperatures of -20 ... -30 ° C. However, even with a high level of frost resistance, they need insulation.

The reasons:

1. Temperature jumps. Winter and early spring thaws relax the vine, reducing its hardening. In a dormant plant, the initial signs of vegetation may awaken, which will severely precipitate new frosts.
2. Returnable spring frosts. Even a slight cold snap can ruin the awakening kidneys.
3. Annual seedlings are much more sensitive to frost. The level of their resistance is significantly lower than the adult vine.
4. Weak root system. With high hardening of the aboveground part of the plant, the roots remain extremely vulnerable to winter weather. Even at shallow depths, the soil is warmer than the air, but it can still freeze in cool regions. Short-term -20 ° C on soil can destroy the base of the grapes.

The influence of the climate of the Volga region on the method of sheltering grapes

An important condition for successful wintering is the correspondence between the method of shelter and the climatic conditions in which the grapes grow. The following indicators must be taken into account:

• record minimum temperatures for the area in winter;
• the presence and height of snow cover;
• wind direction and strength;
• frequency and duration of thaws.

The Volga region is a large region, its climate in different regions is very different. But in general, it is characterized by a fairly cold winter with average temperatures from -10 to -15 degrees. At the same time, the temperature minimum in some areas exceeds -40 degrees. And this is with a small height of the snow cover.

Execution of works

In regions with a temperate climate, both full ground cover and semi-cover with a film can be used, since both methods give approximately the same effect. Wherein it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. When covering with earth, it is enough just to dig a small depression in the immediate vicinity of the plants and lay a bush in it, sprinkling it with earth. The thickness of the soil layer can vary from 15 to 50 cm, depending on the age of the shrub and the size of its root system. Fence should be done in such a way as to avoid exposing the vineyard roots, otherwise it will become even more vulnerable. It is allowed to alternate layers of shelter, when, in addition to soil, dry foliage and straw are used, which is especially important for areas with more severe and long winters. To facilitate the opening procedure, these areas are marked with wooden or metal pegs.
2. In warmer latitudes, a vine cover can be used. To do this, an auxiliary arc of a metal rod or thick wire is installed over the bush, and a thick plastic bag is put on top of it. The lower part of the plant is covered with a thick soil layer with a small depression to ensure air circulation and prevent the development of fungus. With the onset of the first frosts, the recess is completely covered with earth to exclude the access of cold air.

If you wish, you can experiment with materials using a denser glassy fabric, greenhouse film, slate (when fully covered with earth) and other versatile construction waste.

How grapes are insulated in Siberia and the Urals

In regions with cold climates and short summers, growers practice a 2-stage shelter method. At the turn of September-October, at the first frost, a temporary shelter is erected for the vine, which protects the plant and gives it the opportunity to harden before winter. It is done like this:

• carry out the pruning;
• dig a trench along the width of the shoots collected in a bunch;
• mulch the soil inside the ditch;
• tie the branches of the bush and place them in this state at the bottom;
• cover the trench with any suitable material.

About 1-1.5 months the vine will accumulate sugar and other substances, while hardening. Then it's time to thoroughly insulate the grapes for winter. There are 2 ways to do this. The first is dry:

1. Wrap the tied shoots tightly with roofing felt or polyethylene.
2. Lay them on the bottom of the trench and fasten them to the ground with staples.
3. Install arcs over the ditch, which, in turn, cover with a layer of corrugated cardboard (plywood boards) and polyethylene. The shelter should be free of cracks and gaps so that the snow does not fall inside.
4. Additionally, dry branches, old boards or even ordinary earth laid out on top will help protect the protective layer from snow.
5. Pour snow on top (if it has already fallen).

Attention! Such a shelter will provide normal ventilation of the vine and at the same time protect it from moisture. The second option is even simpler:

• process the shoots with lime or other means of debate, dry;
• wrap with polyethylene;
• lay in a tied state in a trench;
• cover with a layer of soil from 30 cm;
• put material that will protect the plant from water ingress;
• cover with dry branches or something similar;
• cover with snow with a layer of 50 cm.

You can open grapes only in April - and even then, if frosts are not expected in the near future. Take out the vine. Let it dry for a few days and place it back in the trench. The grapes can be finally awakened only in mid-May or later, when it gets warmer.

What materials are used for shelter

The use of various shelters depends on the variety, the age of the grape bush, climatic conditions and the capabilities of the gardener. Covering materials must provide heat conservation, breathability, and moisture protection.

Natural and artificial

Typically used as mulch:

• spruce branches are the best option, the vine will not melt under it. Essential oils of pine needles protect the plant from diseases, insect pests, rodents;
• dry leaf litter. The use of the foliage of wild trees is allowed. In fruit shrubs, fallen leaves can be infected with fungal diseases and parasites;
• the straw must be well dried. It is poured in a layer of 30-40 cm;
• sawdust is a good insulation, but it absorbs moisture. They can lead to damping of the grape lashes.

Light air-permeable types of soil are suitable for hilling with soil, best of all is a mixture of peat with sand.