07/21/2026
Crimping is a cover crop termination method that uses a roller to crush plant stems at a specific growth stage, killing the plant without cutting it down. Unlike mowing, which cuts and often removes plant material, crimping leaves it lying flat on the soil surface as a natural mulch layer.
This season, our viticulture team chose to crimp rather than mow the spring cover crop for exactly that reason. One of the plants in that mix was a fast-growing radish, chosen because its long taproot digs deep into the soil, breaking up compacted layers and drawing up nutrients from far below the surface, nutrients that grapevine roots normally cannot reach on their own.
Once terminated, the radish breaks down in place, releasing those scavenged nutrients back into the topsoil near the surface, right where the vines can access them.
Over time, this builds richer, more resilient soil naturally, reducing the vineyard's reliance on synthetic fertilizers.