2.7.4.d How should vines be protected after replacement planting?

Available equipment

The protection of the young vines is often essential for healthy growth. For this purpose, it is possible to use covers or sleeves. They are very effective against rabbits, but they can be harmful because they create a greenhouse effect in hot weather. Moreover, grass can grow inside the sleeves unnoticed. They can also provide ideal shelter for snails who then feed on the buds. Translucent covers can reduce the greenhouse effect and ensure the young vine is easily visible, however, it may be necessary to remove the sleeves until temperatures become more tolerable. Protective netting is also available.

The young plants must be staked: this can be a single stake or double stakes attached to the supporting wire See section on: Planting.

Château Latour does not use sleeves because the young vines are not vulnerable to damage caused by animals. However, double stakes protect the vines during tillage. This is also the case at Domaine d'Eugénie and Clos de Tart.

Weed management

Weed growth around the replaced vines must be controlled in order to avoid competition. In this regard, the application of mulch on the replaced vines is a possibility, with numerous benefits: weed growth is reduced and the soil is kept moist. Mulching can also be effective to help the vines retain water after watering. Even at high temperatures, the water does not rapidly evaporate after watering.
There are also new processes similar to mulching such as biodegradable collars placed around the young vines to reduce weed growth by covering the soil. Cotton mulching squares can also be used to combat weeds. The life span of these "new" mulches is approximately two years.
When mulching is not desired or difficult to apply, it is possible to manually remove weeds around the replacement vines.
It is also advisable to maintain phytosanitary protection. Lack of phytosanitary protection for young vines is one of the main causes of failure.

Return to production

Pruning of replaced vines should be delayed when possible, since young vines tend to develop earlier than the rest of the plot. If pruned too early, they are vulnerable to the effects of late frosts. Replaced vines are generally more susceptible to frost and extreme weather events than vines in production.
On average, it takes nine years for a replaced vine to reach its production potential. However, this does not mean that it is not productive before that. In general, it becomes productive in its second year, but it is possible to remove the bunches to avoid weakening it. After the third year, the young vine can enter production. If the plot has the potential to produce high-quality grapes, it is advisable to harvest the young vines separately from the rest of the plot. They can then be integrated into the rest of the plot when their production potential has been reached. Only analyses and tastings can determine whether or not the young plants should be integrated with the rest of the plot.
These young vines should be monitored and taken care of until they reach their optimal production potential. Poor monitoring and maintenance is often the reason that replacement vines do not thrive. This can be due to irregular soil management around the vine, absence/failure to provide sufficient watering or hilling up, lack of phytosanitary treatments, premature pruning, etc.