Cultivating vineyards is more or less quite demanding and responsible work. And vineyard pest control is essential for a good harvest. It is not enough to think only of soil types. As winegrowers, we also need to think about the correct spacing between the trellis and the regular pruning and dealing with pests because animals and insects love grapes just like humans.

Vineyard Pest Control Can Be Effective if We Know Vine Diseases and Pests

Unfortunately, there are many problems with vine leaves. However, with regular treatment, these diseases can be avoided. As a note, I have been quite successful in pest control so far. Below you can see a list of some of the most common vine diseases.

1. Downy Mildew: Perhaps the most common grapevine disease that attacks the leaves and affects grape growth.
2. Powdery Mildew: This disease also affects grapes and vine leaves.
3. Mosaic virus: in this disease, we talk about yellowing the leaf veins, but it must be said that this disease does not affect the vine’s growth.
4. Crown Gall Disease: Tumors grow in cordons and on the trunk.
5. Leaf Roll Virus: this disease is observed due to slow growth and rolling of leaves on the leaf vein,
6. White Root Rot: In this disease, the vine does not develop normally and dies within 2-3 years after the onset of symptoms.
7. Red Fire Disease: Large spots appear on leaves of purple to reddish-purple color. Affected leaves and grape clusters remain small.
8. Gray Mold Rot: A typical disease for the rainy season. The grapes turn brown, and the berries open. The fruit becomes covered with gray mold as the disease progresses through the vine.
9. Cane and Leaf Spot. There are oval wounds on the young sprouts. It slows down growth and does not produce flowers or fruits.

Diseases and Pests of Grapes

1. Mycoplasma Organisms: They are caused by cicadas. Yellowing of the sprouts, which in turn causes sensitivity to frost.
2. Two Spotted Spider Mites: The insect will settle on the inside of the leaf. The juice of the plant fluid and the leaves fall off.
3. Thrips Bug: Attacks on vine flowers and leaves.
4. Scarab Beetle: attacks sprouts and, in some cases, just grapes.
5. Vine Moth: attacks grape pulp and flower buds.

When you see holes in the leaves of grapes or berries, your vines may be infested with insects. Some of the most popular insects that like to feed on grape plants are rose chafers and moths of grape berries (which eat berries), grape leafhoppers (which eat leaves), and Japanese beetles (which inhibit berry production). The best way to combat these pests is to spray with insecticides.

Pest Inspection

Diseases that affect vines include diseases, insects, and even animals. Deer and birds are the most common animals that like to eat grapes. Common diseases that affect the plant are Phomopsis, mold, fungi, black rot, and leaf spot. When you notice leaf damage and discoloration, you will know that your grapes suffer from some disease. If you see a thin film coating on your plant’s leaves, you should consider appropriate containment measures. All this can cause the decay of grapes. A suitable fungicide is the first line of defense that can overcome major grape diseases. After injecting this medicine, you will definitely notice an improvement in a few days or weeks. However, if this does not help improve your vine’s health, you may be forced to look deeper into the situation and examine in more detail a particular type of disease that has affected your grapes.

Animal Pests

As already mentioned, deer and birds are the most common animals that attack vineyards. Among the most effective repellents for flocks of birds is the use of nets. You can literally lay the net on your trellis system. Of course, it makes sense to remove the nets at least a month before the onset of winter. Leaving the nets on the trellis in the cold season can slow down the plant’s growth and reduce its productivity. However, the net will not prevent deer from invading the vineyard. To repel deer or birds, the use of physical repellents or loud sounds that scare them is also welcome. In case your vineyard is in your backyard, you may need to consider a different approach. For example, because coyotes are deer predators, you may want to use coyote scent as a repellent. There are also metal silhouettes of wolves spinning in the wind, and they have also proven to be effective.