Grapes are considered one of the most widespread fruit crops in the world. Popular varieties can be found not only in the southern Russian regions, but also in the west, north and central regions of the country. Each variety has its own characteristics, which should be considered in the growing process.
Despite the differences in agricultural technology, some of its components are unchanged, for example, garter vines. Heat-loving fruit crops grow rapidly in natural conditions, so you can’t do without a garter. For work, special supports are used, they must be strong and reliable enough to cope with powerful shoots and withstand the onslaught of precipitation.
The need for a procedure
According to experienced gardeners, garter is a must, regardless of where the bushes grow: in the country or in large-scale commercial vineyards.
This procedure performs several functions at once:
manipulation is carried out so that the vine does not braid nearby plants, buildings and other objects;
the bandage will help you quickly and conveniently harvest;
the berries will receive enough sunlight for full ripening and sweetness;
care is simplified, especially pruning of broken and deformed shoots;
a well-executed garter with the onset of spring leads to the fact that the vine does not stretch, retaining the necessary shape and length – the shoots grow the same size, allowing you to form plants to improve its decorative qualities;
the grapes will grow comfortably, and the branches will not intertwine with each other;
fixing the vine on the supports provides full ventilation and oxygen exchange, necessary for the prevention of the appearance and development of the fungus;
in a thickened and neglected crown, dangerous insects often live, which attack the plant, eating the fruits.
A well-groomed plant looks attractive and neat. Grapes are often planted not only to collect juicy and sweet berries, but also to decorate the local area and create a hedge or arch. To get all the benefits of a fruit crop garter, you need to do the work on time.
Deadlines
Optimal deadlines have been set for the work to be carried out. Tying plants in early spring seems to many inexperienced summer residents to be a costly and complicated procedure, but if you choose the right scheme for doing the work, caring for grapes will not be difficult. Several methods of garter have been developed, each of which is carried out taking into account the timing of plant development.
Early green garter is carried out in early spring. You need to have time to complete the work before the sap flow process begins. The buds on the branches must remain closed, otherwise they may be damaged during the garter process, which will negatively affect fruiting and crop quality.
In order for the clusters to grow large, the branches are fixed at an acute angle (from 45 to 60 degrees) or horizontally. Such fixation will positively affect not only the size of the brushes, but also the taste of the fruit. Berries grow juicy, sweet and fragrant.
If the variety has a high trunk or long sleeves, the shoots are placed at an angle of 90 degrees.
In the process of growth of the vine and its lengthening, it is necessary to carry out the garter again. You can perform the procedure only before the start of flowering and the formation of ovaries. Otherwise, the risk of damage to the fruit brushes remains. During one season, at least 4 garter procedures are performed.
And also a green garter is carried out in the summer to create comfortable conditions for the plants and protect them from bad weather and precipitation.
Material selection
In order to properly tie the grapes without harming the plant, you need to prepare not only supports, but also a suitable garter material. To attach branches to structures, it is advisable to use soft textiles, cut into small strips. A thick wire or twine is also suitable. Thin steel wire or fishing line will damage the shoots, so it should be discarded.
If you choose the wrong garter material, you can easily injure the plant. And also the process of sap flow is disrupted, because of which the branch will begin to lose useful substances and dry out.
In the process of fixing, the fabric should not be strongly tightened; it should be slightly loose so as not to transfer the shoots as they grow. Tight fastening takes place only when making a green garter, as young shoots develop slowly and can break from strong winds. A rigid connection will protect them from possible damage.
The main supporting elements of the grapes, which are placed strictly vertically in the ground, can be made of metal or a suitable type of wood.
Note: Galvanized metal wire is often used. It is suitable for horizontal bars. In order for the tiers to withstand the weight of the vine, the thickness of the wire should be about 2 millimeters.
The best varieties of trees for making wooden pegs are mulberry, alder, oak and poplar. It is a strong wood that is highly resistant to rotting processes. Due to this feature, such supports will last longer than others.
Garter Methods
There are two main methods of gartering grapes – dry and green, each of which has certain characteristics. When caring for a fruit crop, both the first and second options are used.
Dry
This variant of the garter is chosen when working with a shortened and already strengthened and lignified vine. In this case, branches should be attached to the lowest tiers of the trellis. With an excessively high load on the lower part of the support, additional tiers are used higher. The bulk is laid horizontally, and last year’s vine, which is necessary for the future trunk, is fixed vertically.
The garter is combined with pruning, getting rid of old, broken and frozen shoots.
Green
The green garter is started only after the young and still fragile vine grows to 0,5 meters. The main purpose of the work is to protect the tender shoots from weaving and the vagaries of bad weather, including strong and gusty winds. Choosing this method of fixation, the shoots are fixed strictly vertically. The entire plant mass is distributed in such a way that a maximum of 3 branches are collected in the node.
If the above requirements are not met, pollination will be problematic, which will negatively affect the quality and volume of the crop. When making a garter, the material used is first fixed. First, a support is wrapped around them, and only then they begin to attach the vine.
This method of fastening will protect the vine from chafing and other possible damage. And also a competent garter will protect the plant from burns that can be obtained from overheating of the metal wire.
The possibility of such damage increases significantly in the hot season.
With fan shaping
To decorate a fruit plant beautifully, they resort to a fan garter. The method of fixing grapes in the form of a fan is actively used by both ordinary summer residents and experienced gardeners. This method is widespread in different regions of the country. This molding option is ideal for varieties that, with the onset of winter, are laid in trenches and covered.
When choosing this technology, the sleeves that are formed from the base will grow on different sides at the same speed. All last year’s shoots are fixed in a strict horizontal position. The young vine is carefully lifted and fixed vertically. The result is an attractive shrub with fan-shaped placement of branches. Such a plant will become an expressive decoration for a garden or any land plot.
How to tie bushes according to age?
When performing a garter of grapes, not only the season and the period of development of the plant are taken into account, but also its age.
Young
Shrub branches are attached to small wooden posts in the first year of life. If necessary, a compact trellis made of mesh can be placed on the plots. It must be strong and thick enough. Fastening is carried out using a soft and dense material that will not harm the soft and not yet stiff vine.
And you can also opt for a grid with large cells. In this case, it must be screwed to a wooden or metal support. The flexible branches will independently trail upwards as they grow and form.
Adults
When caring for adult shrubs, you need to pay special attention to the garter, and do the job correctly in order to eventually harvest a tasty and rich harvest. Long and massive sleeves are fixed to a strong and stable trellis, placing them at an acute angle. The lowest bar is used to fasten replacement knots.
Around the thick wire, those shoots that will bear fruit in the current season are carefully braided. For their fasteners, strips of soft but durable fabric are suitable. Twine is also suitable for tying them to the constructed trellis.
The main difference between the garter of adult fruit plants and young shrubs is the location of the sleeves at an angle of 90 degrees. Each action must be performed very carefully. Even the slightest violation can lead to breakage of a fragile vine.
Possible mistakes
When performing the fastening procedure, the following basic rules must be considered:
new branches are fixed in the region of 3 or 4 tiers;
the young vine is fixed in the second row, placing it at a slight angle;
the last tiers are for skeletal branches.
These rules are widespread and universal, while the work process may differ depending on the characteristics of the variety and other parameters.
When tying the grapes with a figure eight, the shoots are attached separately, and not in groups. The vine that forms the crop is fixed horizontally, and arrows are placed at an angle.
When tying grapes, many summer residents, especially those who do not have the necessary experience in caring for a fruit plant, often make mistakes. Some consider this procedure difficult to perform and, fearing to harm the grapes, completely refuse it. However, it is enough to carry out the garter correctly a few times to make sure that this procedure is simple.
One of the most common mistakes is the use of inappropriate garters and supports, which often leads to the death of the vine. If it is not possible to prepare the necessary material, it can be purchased at specialized stores. The range offers a large selection of clamps, hooks, wires and other holders.
To assemble the structure, some summer residents use a furniture stapler or glue gun. Even when growing low-growing varieties, the supporting structure must be reliable and stable.
The next common mistake is incorrect placement of the vine. Beginners often tie shoots strictly vertically. This leads to a reduction in the weight of the brushes. Another violation is the fixation of the vine by the top. After a certain time, the shoots will begin to grow in different directions, thickening the crown. All internodes growing nearby dry up.
And also you can not strongly bend the vine. When fixing long shoots, many gardeners often form ovals or rings from it, which negatively affects the health and yield of grapes. Incorrect placement compresses the pathways through which micronutrients reach the shoots. As a result, the plant begins to starve and becomes unable to form a rich and juicy crop.
Given the above violations, you can achieve maximum yield and collect a large number of tasty and healthy berries every season. The mistakes described above are made not only by beginners, but also by experienced gardeners, so familiarization with them is mandatory for everyone.
Detailed information on grape garter methods can be found in the following video.
