a 6 foot slanted fence will keep them out. The slant causes them to be unsure on whether they can clear the fence safely.
New Maryland Vineyard
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Deer whipped our butt this year. We will have to get a fence before next year. In the meantime, we took what was left. We forecasted about 80 lugs of grapes. We got 3.
Saved us from upgrading our press. Lots to do before next year…
Saved us from upgrading our press. Lots to do before next year…
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I’m sorry to hear the outcome. Best of luck to you next season.
that is crazy. And infuriating 
. Sounds like a fence is the right call. I will be installing a 7 foot fence with woven wire on the bottom four feet to deter raccoons and turkeys. Then high tensile wire above that. I plan on putting offset bars on the top to hold an additional wire out away from the fence.
Better luck year.
VinesnBines
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I’m there too. I’ll give you a tip. Load those clippings in a trash can or even better a wagon or trailer. It saves a lot of picking up and hauling. Once the vines hit maturity, the pruning debris is phenomenal.
Yikes - what’s all that white stuff!!!!
I agree with Vinesnbines - collect those sticks as you go along. I use a large garbage can with a liner. Leave the liner behind every two rows and then collect them all at the end.
This year I am going to chip the sticks and add to a compost pile for next year.
I agree with Vinesnbines - collect those sticks as you go along. I use a large garbage can with a liner. Leave the liner behind every two rows and then collect them all at the end.
This year I am going to chip the sticks and add to a compost pile for next year.
Are you going to have the fence up before flowering 2025? Deer love grape flowers.
I will be installing a 7 foot fence with woven wire on the bottom four feet to deter raccoons and turkeys. Then high tensile wire above that. I plan on putting offset bars on the top to hold an additional wire out away from the fence.
Better luck year.
No. Last year they didn’t bother them… my dogs tour the vineyard every day,. Maybe the scent helps. I do have netting but didn’t plan on using it until the grapes are ripening.
The fence keeps getting delayed because the bottom of the field is a little saturated and sloppy. Fence should be up in the next couple weeks.
Last year I drug a tarp behind a golf cart and loaded it as I went. It felt like I had to keep stopping pruning to manage all the clippings. I’m trying to go as fast as possible and manage the piles later. I may get non-skilled help to collect the piles for me.
Is it common to prune so early? I was under the impression it was best to wait until just prior to bud swell?
I might be a little early. I’ve heard pruning before bud swell can delay bud break by a week and protect from frost.
We are getting after it early for scheduling reasons. Last year it took us three weeks of working on it every day. This year we have more plants. I’m thinking it could take 4-5 weeks if we stop when it’s rainy/cold.
I don’t think we will finish till mid/late March. Bud break for us is about the first week of April.
That makes sense. You’re a good two months ahead of me, and my 88 vines will take a couple afternoons to prune. I prune late in hopes of delaying bud break. .
VinesnBines
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Ditto for me. Trying to get the late breaking varieties done. I have less time than usual so I’m on the ropes. I think I can still prune some after bud break. I need to research more!
The local winery has been pruning on warm days. It takes time so the sooner they start, the sooner he finishes. Wisconsin Vinters is back at 1841 winery for a pruning / vineyard management demonstration on the 8th.
Many of the commercial vineyards around me have been pruning since early January. In talking with one of the owners, he said “I want to prune using my full time team - not contract workers. Given the amount of work to do, I need 8 weeks to get it done. If I had a choice, I’d prune in late February but then I’d be trying to find a bunch of contract workers - and then worry about the quality of the work.”
I grew up on 6 acres of concord. My grandma, parents and I would trim on the weekend starting in January and struggling to finish before bud break. It is amazing I ever thought about getting into winemaking. 
Now my mom starts trimming aftet first frost and is done by mid-January.
Not having that work hanging over you for the rest of winter is great. And if you have a decent brush-hog, you just chop up the trimmings in the spring...I still don't miss the vineyard work, though!
Now my mom starts trimming aftet first frost and is done by mid-January. Not having that work hanging over you for the rest of winter is great. And if you have a decent brush-hog, you just chop up the trimmings in the spring...I still don't miss the vineyard work, though!
I am finding the larger canes are loaded with spotted lantern egg sacks on the underside. I’m planning on loading up the clippings and taking them to the local yard waste disposal place.
VinesnBines
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Before you take them off, check with Joseph Fiola at UMd about proper disposal. I don’t know if the waste disposal site will destroy the egg sacs or just throw in the landfill. I would burn the debris but you may be given other advice. Dr. Fiola can be reached at [email protected]. He answers quickly.
Edit; I contacted Dr. Fiola and he agreed that the debris should be removed from the vineyard and either taking to a landfill or waste disposal site (harse conditions) will mostly likely prevent hatching. He also said chopping and composting is another method of disposal. Personally I want the egg sacs far far away and not in my compost.
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