Organic pest control and pruning techniques behind award winning wines Gardening Australia

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=fYT7OKdoR6s

Viticulturist Prue Henschke studied botany and zoology and applies this to her vineyards, using native plants to control pests. One of her vineyards, Hill of Grace, has some of the oldest vines in the world. • Subscribe: http://ab.co/GA-subscribe • • Sophie visits one of oldest vineyards in the Barossa to learn the role native plants play in producing their premium wines. • Prue said it started with looking at mulching to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds. They use triticale straw - a cross between wheat and rye - which takes longer to break down than other straw. • This sits on top of the compost, made from grape stalks layered with cow manure. • • A major winter task is pruning. Prue demonstrates a traditional technique aimed at improving sap flow; each vine ends up with one new cane and one new spur on either side. • At the end of each cane, she cuts through the bud because the hard disk here prevents diseases entering the wound. Cuts on old wood are protected by painting the ends. It’s also important to prune when it’s dry, to reduce the chance of fungal spores being carried by damp air. • • On a new vineyard near Hill of Grace, Prue is trialing companion planting using native plants. Sweet Bursaria is planted at the end of a row of vines. Because it flowers at the same time as the vine, Prue hoped it would attract predatory insects to control pests such as Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), which can ruin grapes by laying eggs in the centre of bunches. • • This seems to be working, with the Trichogramma Wasp (Trichogramma pretiosum) controlling moth activity. • • Another pest is the Australian Grapevine Moth (Phalaenoides glycinae), which can skeletonise a plant overnight. These are controlled by Shield Bugs (Family Pentatomidae), again attracted by the bursaria. • • Prue also underplants with wallaby grass, which takes less moisture from the soil that other pasture grasses, suppresses weeds and attracts beneficial insects, as does Lomandra, which is grown under the vines. • • By reducing the moisture and heat stress on the vines, Prue believes these native companion plants are helping maintain the flavour of Henschke’s famous wines. • • Featured plants: • Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) • Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma sp.) • Lomandra (Lomandra multiflora) • • • Owner: Henschke family • • Location: Ngadjuri Country in Moculta, SA • • Climate Zone: Mediterranean - Cool Temperate • • Vineyard established: 1860s • • Style: Vineyard managed using many organic and biodynamic methods • • • See the latest content from Gardening Australia as it goes live by hitting subscribe: http://ab.co/GA-subscribe • Watch Gardening Australia on ABC iview: http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/gard... • • About Gardening Australia: • Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content. • • Connect with other Gardening Australia fans: • Like Gardening Australia on Facebook: / gardeningaustralia • Follow Gardening Australia on Instagram: / gardeningaustralia • Visit the Gardening Australia website: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening • • This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel. • ******** • Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use http://www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).

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