COYOTEHILLFARM wrote:
Grasses, no; mulch, yes. A study conducted in 1997/8 in Victoria and South Australia found that the use of straw-type (as opposed to woodchip) mulch in vineyards reduced watering by up to 40%, increased stem thickness and overall plant health, produced bigger and juicier fruit and increased their harvest by 30%. Mulch was tried out at thicknesses of 10mm (half an inch) through to 150mm (6 inches). The trial established an optimum thickness of 50 to 75mm according to conditions; mulch laid at a thickness of over 75mm did more harm than good. The increased yield was not due to there being more grapes on the vines but to reduced loss of fruit during the growing season.HalloCan you recommend lowgrowing grasses or other plants to improve the grapes growing ability to produce ? Per Garp/NH
roger
