[Growwine] Plastic mulch, Wavelength selective mulches

[Gerth Hansson]

Dave,
Do you have a source for St Johns Wort seeds?

/gth

On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 9:30 AM, Dave Godfrey <dgwine at gmail.com> wrote:

> Burgandy was shocked some decades ago when a soil expert said "there was
> more life in the soils of the Sahara than in Burgundian vineyards." Grapes
> aren't strawberries; their natural home is up in trees and their roots will
> go down 50 feet if they can. But they get lots of nutrients from the top
> foot or so.
>
> Therefore, one can treat a rich crop of "weeds" in the vineyard as sign of
> good soil life--at least on the surface. What I try to do is get that "rich
> zone" to entend down as deeply as possible. Therefore, no herbicides--all of
> which kill and damage indiscriminately.
>
> The useful alternative I have found is to go back to the older methods of
> Burgundy and Bordeaux and plough (or rototill or harrow) with enough
> regularity to enrich your soils. Cold climate Europe traditionally mounded
> up rows in the fall and unmounded them in the spring. I have green manured
> for a more rapid specific enrichment in trouble spots, but in general any
> mixed crop of "unwanted greens" does just as well in terms of production of
> a mass of potential nutrients. There are dozens of good books on how to
> build up the intrinsic richness of your soil.
>
> This strategy means no heavy cedar bark mulches and definitely no
> plastic--both of which build poverty rather than richness in the soil. If
> you don't like your current mix of "weeds" then winter rye is a good choice
> (in certain climates) to reduce diversity and seeding with clovers is a good
> way to produce a mowable cover that helps keep your balance of natural
> nutrients where it should be. For fields with lots of clay, a year or two of
> mangles before planting produced an enormous mass of matter and the root
> penetration is far better preparation than the "bulldozer plough" which is
> recommended here in BC. One traditional measure of soil richness is number
> of earthworms per cubic foot; definitely an incomplete measure, but a good
> quick indicator.
>
> Among my preferred weeds for enrichment are:
> stinging nettle---great producer of early mass of green in spring and
> easily mowe
> dock--good green mass and a root that's good for increasing aeration down
> deep
> broom--used selectively in very heavy clays; prune a plant  back to the
> ground with lopers every year or so to keep new growth out of the canopy
> and you'll force a deep root down to open up a path to lower soil levels
> St. John's Wort--in moderation; definitely increases the micro fauna
> mustard--at least with our warm winters provides pleasant colour in the
> winter
> horsetail--works well against Canada thistle in sandy soils
>
> Every climate and soil mixture needs its own formula for beneficial weeds.
>
> Dave Godfrey
> GB Vineyards
> Vancouver Island
> On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 3:54 AM, Glenda Baker <glenda at dccw.ca> wrote:
>
>> It doesn't matter what is used here, the weeds grow through it, any
>> openings
>> in the fabric for the vines sprout weeds, stones and rocks on top of black
>> fabric don't stop the weeds. Even 4-6 inches of wood chips/mulch don't
>> work.
>>
>>
>> I can't use herbicides so I've been thinking of using a very short
>> aggressive cover bamboo, it gets mowed once each spring, anyone ever tried
>> something like that?
>>
>> Glenda in Newfoundland
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: growwine-bounces at littlefatwino.com
>> [mailto:growwine-bounces at littlefatwino.com] On Behalf Of Steve Melchiskey
>> Sent: June 5, 2008 9:12 PM
>> To: growwine at littlefatwino.com
>> Subject: Re: [Growwine] Plastic mulch, Wavelength selective mulches
>>
>> I've used the woven black mulch for a full 3 years now.....no
>> problems except those identified by Alain. The other issue is that
>> the behind the tractor mower doesn't get near enough to the mulch
>> line, so there is a 4 inch row of weeds I have to weed whack, and
>> deal with or they get very, very high. I don't use round up, but am
>> tempted (too bad I grow organic). It actually has been the best thing
>> I did for my vineyard and my back. I highly recommend it......
>>
>> I have also been thinking of pulling up the mulch and planting a low,
>> dwarf grass where the mulch was.....some way of using the bare ground
>> as a transition point. Haven't figured this out yet. Need an
>> aggressive growing, dwarf grass......
>>
>> best,
>> steve
>> maine coast vineyards
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Dave Godfrey
> Godfrey Brownell Vineyards
> Glenora, BC, Canada
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>
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