I moved into my house two years ago. In the backyard, there is a very mature grape vine that has black rot. It is not in a good location at all. The ground there never dries. The base of the vine is over a foot in diameter. Can this be moved? How do I treat the rot?
Create some drainage? Can you give it some room (for air movement) and sunshine? The organism overwinters in bark lesions (even in uninfected wood) and of course any infected bits that remain in the area, so housekeeping is very necessary. Google "grape black rot" for some more information on the problem. It's much easier to prevent than cure. Control by spraying beginning at bud-break until 2 weeks after flowering. Bordeaux mix is suggested, but almost any of the listed (for black rot) fungicides will be significantly more effective in a problem area. Abound, Sovran, Nova (Immunox), Elite, Ferbam, Procure among others. Be careful with Mancozeb as it has a very long interval to harvest. Even a huge excavator will only get a small fraction of the root system for a transplant attempt, and if it's a foot across there must be something it likes about the current location. Ralph
Thanks for the advice. My problem is that is HAS to be moved. We need that section of yard for something else. I think it grew so well because it is very close to the drain field for the septic system. That causes excess moisture, though, which caused the rot. Also, it is behind a garage, so it gets no sun until late afternoon. (I'm sure the vine was there first) The ground there doesn't even grow grass. I am either going to try and move it, or just kill it. I am starting some more grape varieties in another section of yard. I'm don't even particularly like the kind that I have, so if it dies, not a big loss. I was only trying to save it because it is so old.
