Vineyards and orchards

Immediate vineyard and orchard management after a bushfire event requires looking at all aspects of your property, infrastructure and plant health.

Follow our guide on how to ensure your vineyards and orchards survive the aftermath of a bushfire.

Assess damage

When it’s safe, inspect your vineyards or orchards after a bushfire to see how plants have been affected.

Fire damage in vineyards and orchards can affect trees in different ways, from scorched leaves to totally dead plants. It is important to adequately assess how your plants have been affected before deciding what to do next.

For plants that are still alive it is important to make sure irrigation infrastructure is working as soon as possible, to minimise further damage.

Vineyards

If your vineyard is registered with Vinehealth, PIRSA will contact you to help with assessment and recovery, after a bushfire event.

For more industry specific assistance, there are a range of industry organisations who offer valuable support and information:

Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI)

The AWRI has a free and confidential helpdesk available to grape growers and winemakers needing advice on technical issues.

Contact the AWRI helpdesk for help.

The AWRI also offers a range of services to assess levels of smoke taint prior to harvest.

Read about Associate Professor Cassandra Collins' research: ‘An observational study into the recovery of grapevines following a bushfire' (PDF 2.7 MB).

DJs Growers

James Hook from DJs Growers can help with analysis of burnt trees and vines, and supply satellite imagery and mapping of damaged blocks.

Mt Bera Vineyards

Greg Horner from Mt Bera Vineyards has experience regenerating his Gumeracha vineyard after the Sampson Flat fire.

Read the case study and listen to the podcast about the vineyard recovery at Mt Bera.

Industry bodies

Orchards

If you are registered with the Apple and Pear Growers Association, PIRSA will contact you to help with assessment and recovery, after a bushfire event.

Lenswood Co-op offers one-on-one technical advice to tree fruit growers.

Read about recovery from fire damage in fruit orchards from Agriculture Victoria.

You can also find a variety of information from industry peers and bodies about how to manage the recovery of your fruit trees:

Page last reviewed: 31 Mar 2022

 


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