Native plants aim to ease work in Wachau vineyards

Native plants could reduce maintenance work in the Wachau’s steep vineyards while supporting biodiversity, ORF reports. Early trials at 14 locations found that suitable ground cover could be established at every site.

The project, which ran from 2022 to 2024 with support from the European Union’s LEADER programme, brought together winegrowers from Vinea Wachau and scientific partners. They tested plants and seed mixtures to keep the soil beneath the vines covered. In some trial plots, the selected plants made up as much as 90 percent of the cover. Fescue varieties, bird’s-foot trefoil and thyme performed particularly well.

Mowing between and beneath vines is among the most labour-intensive tasks on the steep terraces, where machinery can be difficult to use. The low-growing plants are intended to crowd out unwanted weeds and reduce both mowing and the use of weed-control products. The project has not yet reported the scale of any savings. Research is continuing in Klosterneuburg.

The vineyard trials have also inspired a project at Jauerling, where new ecological methods for growing Christmas trees have been tested for about a year. The Lower Austrian Christmas Tree Producers’ Association is working with the Jauerling Nature Park and scientific partners on alternative ground-cover mixtures and biological pest control. The aim is to reduce chemical use and encourage biodiversity. Practical experience has been gathered, but no specific findings on effectiveness have been announced.

A third initiative is focused on the Wachau’s Heurigen, or wine taverns. Changing customer habits and expectations have prompted businesses to work with Vinea Wachau and the LEADER region on ways to develop the tradition. Workshops and discussions have focused on sharing experience and improving cooperation.

All three projects receive support through the EU’s LEADER programme, which promotes rural development and cooperation among local groups. The participants hope successful approaches can be adopted by more businesses. Domäne Wachau director Heinz Frischengruber said the vineyard project was also intended to keep soils healthy for future generations.