Organic Fertilizer for Grapes

Manure

• Apply manure to mature grapevines in the spring to provide a nutrient base for the growing season. Avoid fertilizing young or newly planted vines late in the season with manure, which encourages growth and leaves the plant vulnerable to winter cold.

Managing pH

• Grapes require a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Before planting vines, work lime into acidic soil to raise the pH and increase available calcium. Gardeners with acidic soil low in magnesium can apply dolomitic lime to correct this nutrient imbalance.

Warning

• Over-fertilizing grapevines can lead to unmanageable growth and make plants more attractive to pests, increasing the vine's vulnerability to disease. Applications of mature compost typically provide all of the nutrients a grapevine needs. As the compost breaks down into the soil over time, gardeners can add a new layer.