"Unka Dan, I want to transplant grape vines.. what is the best kind of fertilizer to put into the new hole ? or none ?? I have a vine growing in the middle of the lawn,, I want to put it next to the peacock pen so it can crawl up the wire..
I have to go do something with the old grapes also. they are getting choked off with renegade raspberry .. either jerk out all the raspberry or transplant those old vines next to the peacock pen also..
I also have to learn more about starting cuttings of grapes.. I have lots of heavy rocks to use up.."
Jim my knowledge of grapes is limited (mostly to the Ripple I consumed in the '60's) but I suggest using your best compost, make the hole 3 times as big as you think they need, amend with that compost, cut the plant back by a third.. Late in a normal year to be transplanting but with this weather it should work,,,,,keep them well watered until freezeup this fall and don't expect to harvest much.
For the cuttings that time has passed you need to do that in early spring before bud break I would think,,,,keep those rocks handy.
as far as LABS for a soil additive yes it is one of many things that help,,,,there are no silver bullets in soil prep but there are a few that when used together and timed properly will turn your soil into a living, working, thing of wonder.
something as simple as a soil drench of whole milk (diluted, raw preferred) adds the lactic bacteria, molasses and simple sugars provide carbs for the "critters" (bacteria) to feast on, kelp and alfalfa meal provide not only N-P-K but a host of micro nutrients and some "magic properties", liquid fish fertilizer is high in amino acid, humic acid aids the uptake of nutrients, the list is almost endless. I have spend 30+ years learning about soils, an amazing science.
bbl
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