Directions for How to Bury Grape Vines

Locate a place to plant the grapevines, which prefer a southerly location that receives full sun. Each vine needs to be 6 to 8 feet away from the next.

Measure the fertility of your soil by obtaining a soil testing kit from a home and garden store in the fall before you intend to plant the grapes. These kits indicate the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil. Nitrogen helps the plant produce green leaves, phosphorus is essential for root growth and potassium promotes flower and fruit development, as well as the ripening process. Any deficiency in these basic soil nutrients will retard the growth of the vines.

Amend the soil based on the test results. Animal manures provide nutrients to the soil and also boost the amount of organic matter. Grapes do not like heavy, wet soils, and in areas where clay is the predominant soil mixture, the manures or even forest mulch will lighten the soil. Spread the manures or mulches near the places where you'll plant the vines and dig them into the top layer of the soil.

Use a shovel when all danger of frost is past to dig the holes for the grapes. Carefully uncurl the grapevine roots and estimate how large your hole has to be. If you are planting potted grapes, lift the plant out of the pot carefully. Unlike trees and shrubs, you don't need to dig the hole deeper or wider than the depth and diameter of the vine's root spread.

Place the root of the vine inside the hole and cover it with soil, tamping it down with your hands or the back of the shove. The soil level should not cover the canes coming up from the root. Water the vines and add any more soil if the dirt settles.