Swales in a vineyard

Hello friends, I am planning a vineyard and the area I have in mind has a gentle slope. I am wondering about planting the vines on swales on contour, but I can't find any information about doing this online. We are in TN and I wonder if our rainfall would make it unnecessary anyway. What are your thoughts? Thank you!

Amanda

Hello, Amanda.

Welcome to Permies!

I have been trying to solve the contour / not to contour question for some time. I think there might be a few resources that might help. But I was hoping to ask a couple of questions first. Is the ultimate goal not to have to water the vines? How much annual rainfall do you get? And when does most of the rain come? (fall, winter, spring?) I thought I had read that vines / grapes don't like to have their feet wet... is that true?

A.J.

The depth and placement of plants here would be critical. Soil types, vine variety, and irrigation/rainfall all play into typical wine terroir decisions.

How large is your site?

Fastest way to lay out broadacre swales: GPS http://www.versaland.com/workshops/gps-keyline-design/

Grant Schultz wrote:The depth and placement of plants here would be critical.  Soil types, vine variety, and irrigation/rainfall all play into typical wine terroir decisions.

How large is your site?

Fastest way to lay out broadacre swales: GPS  http://www.versaland.com/workshops/gps-keyline-design/

Hi there, I'm planning vineyards for a couple of clients near Greenville, SC. hot, humid summers, lots of rainfall, but a bit dry in summer. I'm thinking of planting the vines within about 6 inches to a foot of the cut edge of the swale the uphill side to keep their feet dry, filling the swale with wood chip wide enough for a walkway, and planting the berm to an alternative crop. Varieties will be known grown at local vineyards, including muscadine and some hardy wine varieties.
I'd love to hear thoughts, as well as ideas for companion plants.
Also, the link for broadacre swales no longer works but I'd love to hear about the method.

Thanks,
Anna Marie

Anna Marie, this thread is one that you or others might find interesting:

https://permies.com/t/169689/swales-work