 What height should I
choose?
SnapMaxTM was designed to be attached at
the
top, by means of a tab, to the fruiting wire. The base of the guard must be secure and this is obtained by burying
SnapMaxTM between 5 and 7cms into the
ground.
The better the ground has been prepared and the better the wire has been installed so that the distance from the wire to the ground is as uniform as
possible, the easier it will be to install SnapMaxTM. In the event of a very irregular
surface, choose a protector of an average height. If the guard is too short to reach the
wire, secure it with a stake through the openings that are provided at the
back. If it is too tall, it is better to cut it down than to force it downwards which will not only spoil the
guard, make it extremely difficult to install properly but also curve it in such a manner as to prevent the vine from growing
straight.
When should one install
SnapMaxTM?
SnapMaxTM should usually be installed before the vine begins to bud. This makes the task easier and one is less likely to cause any damage to new shoots. This does not mean that
SnapMaxTM cannot be installed later on in the season, particularly during cold wet Springs when there is an added risk of Botrytis, particularly in sloping vineyards, when one should delay the placing of the guards until all danger is
past.
When should one remove theSnapMaxTM ?
The guards should be removed at the end of the growing season when the vines have become sufficiently developed. The stem will be strong and need no further support and the shoots will be tied to the wire.
They must be removed before there is a threat of frost and only after all treatments against pests and diseases have been completed. They should also not be removed during the growing period or on a particularly hot
day.
How does one storeSnapMaxTM ?
SnapMaxTM should be laid flat and stored in a dark place. When they are reused, fold them 'inside out' so that the clean side is turned inwards, towards the vine, and the other side is exposed to the
sun.
Can I useSnapMaxTM in the traditional field grafting of
vines?
You can, but we recommend that you place the guards a little later in the season once you are sure that your grafts have taken. Another alternative is to install
SnapMaxTM during the second year.SnapMaxTM is not a substitute for the plastic that some growers use when
grafting.
How does one irrigate vineyards withSnapMaxTM ?
I
Irrigation is done in the traditional manner, by opening channels. As we said
earlier, in cold and wet Springs where Botrytis is a permanent
risk, it is better to wait to open these channels in order to avoid water pooling at the root of the
vine, particularly in sloping vineyards. Never water the plant inside the
tube!
Is the use ofSnapMaxTM truly
cost-effective?
Creating a vineyard is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Vines must be provided with the best possible conditions if they are to grow in a healthy and homogenous manner and become
productive. Mortality and weak vines whose growth has been stunted are extremely costly to the investor and the loss is difficult to
recover.
SnapMaxTM vine protectors are the ideal instrument for safeguarding your
vineyard, reducing your overheads and protecting your investment. Far from being a
luxury, they are absolutely indispensable to the healthy and mechanisable
vineyard.
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How and when should one assemble
SnapMaxTM?
We recommend that you assembly SnapMaxTM beforehand. Stack the assembled guards upright in grape crates and take them to the vineyard.
When placing SnapMaxTM over a vine, take care not to damage the
plant.
What maintenance to the vine is required with
SnapMaxTM?
It has been shown that a vine that is protected with
SnapMaxTM requires the minimum maintenance. Although use of
SnapMaxTM will eliminate the appearance of most side buds, there is always more than one shoot that will grow from the 2 or 3 existing buds. Once the stem of the vine reaches the top of the guard, open the
SnapMaxTM, select the straightest and most robust shoot and cut all others off. When you close the
SnapMaxTM, take care not to trap any
leaves.
How does one protect the vine against
disease? Experience has proven that vines that are protected with
SnapMaxTM are less prone to disease than unprotected vines. There is less of a risk of mildew and oidium due to the physical barrier that exists between the vine and the spores than can be found in pools of water. We do, however, recommend that you take all usual precautions and that you spray the vine with an appropriate fungicide. Recent studies at the University of Nietvoorbj in South Africa have shown that the temperature and humidity inside the guards are too high for mildew and oidium to develop. There was no disease of the vine within the guards as opposed to mildew, which appeared on unprotected vines and on leaves outside the guards. The latter was controlled as usual with the appropriate
fungicides.
The SnapMaxTM does not protect the vines against grey rot. Special attention must be paid when opening irrigation channels in vineyards to ensure there is no accumulated humidity around the base of the vine. You must also be alert during cold, wet Springs when we recommend a preventive treatment with Benlate (60-100 g/100 l).
Why areSnapMaxTM vine protectors the
best?
Other types of guards have not proven to be totally effective. Growers have tried to protect their vines from predators with milk cartoons but these fell apart by the end of the first season. Cylindrical tubes are clumsy to store and take up too much space and, in several cases, the vines turned and twisted as they grew instead of remaining straight. Later protectors had a very complicated design that involved long installation times and lots of loose parts that could be easily lost. Furthermore, vine protectors that do not open for removal have to be cut off the vine, which increases the risk of damage to the plant and proves costly as they cannot be
reused.
Although SnapMaxTM has the same advantages as other growing tubes (protection against high winds and other harsh weather, lower training and vineyard maintenance costs, safe use of herbicides), it offers additional advantages that make it far superior to other models.
SnapMaxTM vine protectors greatly reduce the amount of time and labour spent in vineyard maintenance, they enhance development of the vine and earlier production, reduce vine mortality, and promote homogenous growth to facilitate mechanisation, all of which reduces your costs and overheads and protects your
investment.
Should one removeSnapMaxTM during very hot
weather?
No. If you remove the guards, the vine will suffer.SnapMaxTM was particularly designed to be used in hot regions such as Australia and the Alentejo. You must, however, pay careful attention to the water status of the vine and irrigate more frequently when temperatures are at their highest. Don't forget to open the built-in ventilation holes to increase the airflow within the
guard.
Is there any advantage to usingSnapMaxTM on
rootstock?
Yes, inasmuch as the stem will be much stronger and much straighter which will make subsequent grafting
easier.
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