Published in Good Fruit Grower
By Melissa Hansen, Washington State Wine Commission
July 6, 2017
Weed management is an important topic for nearly every wine grape grower in Washington, yet there has
been a major void in new research.
That ends this summer with a brand new weed management research project, funded by the state’s wine industry through the Washington State Wine Commission.
Vineyard weed control is critical at pre-planting, planting and replanting stages. That’s the optimum time to control perennial and annual weeds and set up the young vines for a strong start.
Weeds not only compete with young and established vines for crop water, nutrients and sunlight, they also can support populations of insects, rodents and pathogenic pests detrimental to vineyard productivity and fruit quality.
For more than a decade, there has been a lack of weed scientists dedicated to research for Washington vineyards.
Read more by downloading the full article above.