Weeds — the Main Threat to Grapes in June: Protection Tips
From early May to mid-June, vineyards experience the most active growth of weeds. During these weeks, it is recommended to conduct intensified monitoring and control of weed populations, as their excessive growth can negatively affect the condition of the grapevines and the future harvest.
This is reported by AgroReview
Weed Dynamics in June
As noted by Natalia Mohylyuk, scientific secretary of the Quarantine Research Station for Grapes and Fruit Crops at the Institute of Plant Protection of NAAS, the rate of new weed emergence slows down starting from the third decade of June. This is related to the drying of the topsoil and its shading by the leaf surface of the grapes.
“Starting from the third decade of June, the intensity of wild herbaceous plant emergence slows down,” she notes, “which is associated with the drying of the upper layers of the soil and its shading by the leaf surface of the grapes.”
Effective Weed Control: Herbicides and Timing
The timing for applying herbicides is determined by the dynamics of weed emergence and their quantity. This is influenced by air and soil temperature, moisture levels, and the diversity of seeds. Natalia Mohylyuk advises vineyard owners of bearing age to apply soil herbicides based on metolachlor, terbutryn, or mesotrione before weed emergence or at the 1-2 leaf stage for grasses and 2-4 leaf stage for broadleaf plants. These products demonstrate high effectiveness against annual and perennial broadleaf and grassy weeds.
“In vineyards of bearing age, before weed emergence or at the 1-2 leaf stages for grasses and 2-4 leaf stages for broadleaf plants, soil herbicides based on metolachlor, terbutryn, and mesotrione can be sprayed. Products with these active ingredients are effective against annual grassy and broadleaf weeds and some perennial broadleaf weeds,” the specialist writes.
Timely weed control in June will help maintain the viability of the grapevines, increase yield, and reduce competition for moisture and nutrients between the crop and wild plants.