Planting a Vineyard? Weed Management Starts Now!
Wayne Mitchem
Orchard and Vineyard Floor Management
N.C. State Univ., Clemson Univ., and Univ. of Georgia, Cooperating

If you intend to plant a vineyard this winter it is time to think about weed management considerations. In most cases vineyards are planted into established grass sods. A common practice is killing the sod in the vine rows prior to tillage operations ahead of planting. Roundup UltraMax, or Touchdown may be used to kill sods. Roundup UltraMax or Touchdown at 2.4 or 3 qt/acre, respectively, will control most cool season grass mixtures, common to wine grape production areas. For cool season grass (fescue, bluegrass) mixtures, applications should be made in mid-fall, when these species are actively growing. In areas where warm season grass (bermudagrass) mixtures are common a late summer to early fall application of Roundup UltraMax or Touchdown at 3.2 or 4 qt/acre, respectively, is more appropriate. One question often asked is "How long after applying my herbicide must I wait before tillage can be done?". Usually 4 weeks is adequate.

Weed control the first year is important. Several preemergence herbicide options are available in newly planted vineyards. Surflan is the most commonly used product in newly planted grapes. It provides excellent pigweed, common lambsquarters, and annual grass control. Surflan should be applied once soil has settled after transplanting. Problems with the manufacturing facility has limited its availability, however this is expected to change. An alternative to Surflan is Prowl. Prowl should be applied once soil has settle after transplanting, but can not be applied once bud break occurs. Prowl provides similar weed control as Surflan. In addition to the preemergence herbicides, postemergence herbicides applications will be necessary. Weed spectrum, growing conditions, and the long growing season make weed control in Southeast more difficult than in other regions of the United States. At least 1 or 2 applications of a non-selective herbicide, like Gramoxone Max or Rely, will be needed. The need for Gramoxone Max or Rely requires grow tubes or some other form of protection to shield tender vines from the herbicide spray. If postemergence grass control is needed Poast, Fusilade, and Select are all registered for use in newly planted vineyards. These products provide effective control of perennial grass weeds like bermudagrass and Johnsongrass as well as annual grass weeds like crabgrass.