Managing a grape arbor in the home landscape is one of the most difficult things you will ever undertake in the garden. Grapes are beset with humongous problems, not only multiple diseases and insect attacks every year, but cumbersome pruning activities every spring. One can't blame homeowners for abandoning grape arbors because of the work involved to grow an edible crop of fruit.

Some of the historic disease problems can be traced back to the lack of sanitation one year to the next. When the outdoor growing season comes to an end, the grape arbor should be sanitized to eliminate debris and organic matter that, otherwise, would wreak havoc on the next year's crop of grapes. Around Halloween, dedicate a morning's work to a methodical cleanup of the area. Fallen grapes must be gathered and trashed to prevent recurring diseases. If the area was mulched, the organic matter should be raked clean and the mulch disposed of with the trash. This mulch would inevitably harbor disease spores, perhaps fallen grapes as well, so the area must be cleaned. New mulch would be applied once the growing season got underway.

Another fall priority is checking the soil pH under and around the grape arbor to make any adjustments. Soil pH for grape arbors should be around 5.9, maybe a few points one way or the other. A pH between 5.6 and 6.5 would seem to be on the target. If the pH needs to be raised, apply pulverized limestone in early November, probably two or three garden trowels of lime scattered over the bare soil and scratched in.

Grape growers must keep track of their vines to simplify spring pruning. Vines grow one year, bear fruit the next, and must be pruned away in early spring of the third year. We refer you to another "data sheet" on our web site devoted to the pruning of grape vines. Please go to that web site so you know what needs to be done as you begin growing grapes this year.

Many home gardeners will never accept the use of pesticides in the landscape, in which case you could never grow your own grapes. Lord knows how many grape arbors have been cut down for this reason. If you want to grow grapes, you must accept using pesticides to prevent disease and insects from destroying the fruit. We begin with a summary of products needed, then detailing the grape spray program.

Products needed:

Superior Oil (liquid)
Immunox (liquid)
Methoxychlor (wettable powder)
Captan (wettable powder)
Mancozeb (wettable powder)
Sevin (liquid and powder)
Ferbam (wettable powder)
Canola Oil (liquid)

SPRAY SCHEDULE

Bud swell (just before buds show green): When air temperatures will stay above 40 degrees for 24 hours after the spray, apply Superior Oil and Immunox to dormant buds.

Half-Inch Shoot (spray when new shoots are a 1/2 to 1 inch long): This is a critical spray to stop black rot. Spray Immunox to growing shoots.

4-Inch Shoot (when shoots are 4 to 8 inches long): Another spray is needed for black rot. Spray Immunox again to the shoots.

10-Inch Shoot (when shoots are 10-to-12 inches long): You are now fighting to control disease and insects. Multiple products are needed now. This spray includes Immunox, Kelthane, Methoxychlor and Sevin.

Pre-Bloom (just before flowers open): Apply the same products as for the 10-inch shoot spray.

Bloom (no later than when 5 percent of the blooms have opened): Repeat the 10-inch shoot spray.

Petal-Fall (within 7 days of the bloom spray): Apply Captan, Ferbam, Kelthane, Methoxychlor and Canola Oil.

First Cover (a week after petal-fall): Apply Captan, Ferbam, Kelthane, Methoxychlor, Sevin and Canola Oil.

Second Cover (a week after first cover): Apply Captan, Ferbam, Immunox and Canola Oil.

Third Cover (target this spray for the first week of August): Apply Captan, Ferbam, Immunox, Methoxychlor, Sevin and Canola Oil.

Fourth Cover (10 days after third cover): Spray Immunox, Methoxychlor, Sevin and Canola Oil.

HELPFUL HINTS ON SPRAYING

* Read all labels first to familiarize yourself with the proper mounts to be used.

* Always check the forecast before spraying. No rain should be on the way for at least 12 hours.

* Best time to spray is in the morning between 7 and 10. Spray liberally.

* Don't mix more materials than you need. One grape arbor can be protected with a pint of final spray, two arbors with a quart solution.

* In mixing, add and stir dry powders together. Slowly, apply a few ounces of tepid water, stirring to wet the powders. Add more tepid water until all powders have been dissolved. Add liquids only at this time.

* Rely on a hand-pump sprayer for spraying. Once a minute, shake the sprayer to keep products in suspension.