CropWatch BUDBURST EL 4

Early Budburst in the Adelaide Hills

Welcome to CropWatch for the
2009/10 growing season.
An early budburst is expected
across the region due to
warmer than average weather
conditions for July and August.
Our neighbouring warmer
climate regions, The Barossa
Valley and McLaren Vale are
running two weeks earlier than
last season.
This is significantly earlier than
the long term average dates.
This trend of early season
budburst trend is expected to
continue as the warmer
vineyard sites in the Adelaide
Hills move past 50% Greentip
This message from Adelaide Hills
Hills CropWatch SA was compiled on Friday,
Friday,
(EL 4) in the next two weeks.
Frost risk & weather August 28th 2009 September 4th.
2009 and will be updated on September
damage More Pest and Disease information is available at
We are now entering the period
where cold temperatures can www.adelaidehillswine
www.adelaidehillswine.com
adelaidehillswine.com.au
.com.au
affect developing buds and
shoots in grapevines.
There has been some bud Growth Stage Frost Damage Above – Early season wind
movement seen generally in Temp. damage.
stressed vines near trees. Dormant -4.5°C Below – Frost affected buds
Watch out for frost alerts in the can later burst in a mosiac
coming weeks if you have a pattern.
history of damage. Woolly Bud -3.5°C
The good news is the best
defense against frost is wet soil Greentip -1.1°C
and windy weather. This week
has seen more significant
rainfall and kept soils at Shoots up to -0.5°C
saturation. A moist vineyard- 150mm
floor with slashed weeds or
cover crop stores most heat Shoots over 0.0°C
and helps protect against frost. 150mm

1 CropWatch SA Adelaide Hills is a service provided by service provided by the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. DJ’s Grower Services provide vineyard monitoring data,
interpret weather data & compile the messages. Information is general in nature. Always seek professional advice specific to your vineyard. All photos (c) James Hook,
Richard McGeachy & Peter Magarey unless noted. CropWatch acknowledges the support of James Hook & Matthew Wilson in preparing this message.
Beneficial Insects
Beneficial insects are either predators or parasites.
Predators hunt and feed on vine pests, while
parasites hatch inside or on a pest, and then they
eat the pest as they grow.
The most common types of beneficial insects in your
vineyard are:
Lacewings, Ladybirds, Predatory mites,
Predatory wasps, & various types of spiders.
Some of these predators & parasites can be
purchased for release in the field, but often they are
expensive and ineffective. Your best bet is to
conserve the beneficial insects already in your
vineyard. Keeping these bugs alive may help to
keep pest problems at an acceptable level through
the year without having to take any further action.
Different cover crop systems and management have
different effects on beneficial insects. Other factors
can also help maintain the habitat of beneficial
insects by leaving crop residue on the ground and
preserving woodlots, windbreaks, fencerows, and
unmowed grassy ditch banks and waterways.
Left: Lacewing eggs are found on bark, or even trellis
posts, they are also found in your covercrop or
volunteer weeds. After Bud burst occurs popultions
of ‘Junk bugs’ the juvenille Lacewing larvae will live
inside your canopy eating soft bodied insects like
Light Brown Apple Moth.

Cover Crop System Technique Suitability for beneficial

insects
Mono-culture of Discing in Low
Annual cover crop
Eg. Cereals Slash/Throw Low-Moderate

Every second row retained Moderate

Mono-culture of permanent cover crop. Slashed Moderate
Eg Ryegrass
Every second row kept long Moderate-Good.
every Spring
Volunteer cover crop. No cover crop planted, Moderate
weeds slashed.
Mixed cover crop Discing in Low-Moderate
Eg. Ryegrass/Clover, Triticale/Vetch
Slash/Throw Moderate

Every second row retained Moderate- Good

into Spring

Insectary Blends. Specialist cover crop Flowering cover crop Good

that have high pollen production- eg. retained into Summer.
Indian Mustard, Buckwheat.
CropWatch SA Adelaide Hills is a service provided by service provided by the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. DJ’s Grower Services provide vineyard monitoring data,
interpret weather data & compile the messages. Information is general in nature. Always seek professional advice specific to your vineyard. All photos (c) James Hook,
Richard McGeachy & Peter Magarey unless noted. CropWatch acknowledges the support of James Hook & Matthew Wilson in preparing this message.