Mulch - Manshit or gardeners question time?

[Paul Arden]

So I have 180 vines dug now and I'm waiting for the results. Zoli the wine master told me to cover them in 15 inches of sand (I think). I'm guessing this is to winterise them - fuck me, will it never end? :p

A search on the Internet reveals that no-one does this. But in harsh climates vines are covered in mulch. I don't know very much about mulch apart from it's got leaves and straw in there. Does anyone here know mulch about mulch?

Thanks,
Paul the mud man.

[Marc LaMouche]

why didn't you just plant them in spring ?!

[Paul Arden]

Couldn't get the vines I wanted in the Spring. None available in Hungary!

[Paul Arden]

(15 cm of sand. Not a beach)

[Marc LaMouche]

won't this make the wine gritty ?

[Paul Arden]

I can filter through underpants.

[ennio]

The plants will be dormant now; in the UK fruiting bushes are generally supplied during the winter when they are dormant. Obviously garden centres sell them rooted in containers the year round and at a handsome price: dormant plants can be shipped bare-rooted which dramatically reduces transportation costs.

I'm imagining that if he said to mulch with sand this will be to protect the crown of the plants during the cold winter, by using sand this will not retain moisture at the plant crown, so the vine will not be killed by frost.

In the hot summer he might advise to mulch with compost to retain moisture at the plant crown.

[Marc LaMouche]

why not just use underpants ?

[Paul Arden]

Well I'm not building a dome on them. I'm building sandcastles.

Thanks!

[Paul Arden]

Only have one pair, Marc.

[Viking Lars]

Well, I'm no garderner by any measure, but I do know that a lot of people here in Denmark uses mulch, or cow dung, of branches of pine or even sphagnum to winterise plants such as roses and other plants to do fine over the winter with just a little help.

I can't imagine sand doing much in that regard and I can't imagine that mulch can do any harm.
Lars

[petevicar]

The reason to cover the plants is so that they don't freeze.
Sand could be OK but if it is wet then it will freeze solid and possibly kill the vines that it is supposed to protect. The reasoning behind mulch is that there is a significant amount of air in the mix and whereas the outside of the mulch may freeze the inside probably won't. Think of multi layered clothing.

[Jeroen]

As Peter stated, sand will cover the roots but can freeze solid which will damage the roots. Mulch is made up from organic materials which will generate heat while decomposing. Just ask the many species of birds that use dead leaves and branches as an incubator for their eggs.

[Marc LaMouche]

J's right. Talking to birds always helps !

[Paul Arden]

Right. Well I'd better get this done soon then. Thanks!!