We have pulled most of the volunteer trees and bushes in the Maple Woods Vineyard but have about 11 rows to do. This task was neglected last year and probably the year before and we are paying the price now. We sprayed all vineyards except for some parts of Tassel Ridge Vineyard. It got too windy and we had to stop at Tassel Ridge. Our Steuben vineyard at Meadowcreek has also been neglected for a couple of years and the vines are very weak and spindly. We are getting the few vines that remain tied up along with the Brianna vines at Tassel Ridge. And, we got Maple Woods Vineyard mowed.
This past week, we continued spraying, mowing, pruning suckers, and tying up vines. We also worked on pruning and tying up vines in the front of the Winery. Time permitting, we continued to pull trees, and we worked on the broken posts at Tassel Ridge and at Newport Lane Vineyard.
Finally, one never knows what they can learn when they set out to do a task in the vineyard. After neglecting the Maple Woods Vineyard for two seasons, we are making a major effort to get it cleaned up. We started working in a planting of LaCrosse which we need as a blending component in making several wines. We would rather not have to purchase the grapes, especially when we have 2–3 acres growing at Meadowcreek Vineyard and at Maple Woods Vineyard. This involves taking a weed wacker and moving very slowly down the vineyard row taking out the weeds. Most weeds are no problem but one is a major challenge and that is the Horsetail plant.
The Horsetail plant is botanically known as Equisetum and it is the only living genus of Equisetaceae. This plant has been around since the Paleozoic period or about 100 million years. It is very fibrous and it resists (unsuccessfully) the weed wacker. It grows to a height of as much as 7–8 feet tall and it can consume both the nutrients and water close to the grape vines. It is mildly toxic to humans and livestock but, it is also used to make various kinds of folk medicines.
The horsetail has already grown to as much as 2–3 feet tall and if left to its own devices may grow to as much as 7–8 feet tall by the time of the first hard frost. The stem is fibrous and it resists cutting with the nylon filament in the weed wacker. But, if we make sure the filament is at maximum length, it is usually possible to grind up the base plant and kill the Horsetail. Then, a visit every 2–3 months takes care of any Horsetails that don’t get the message that they are not welcome.
