The ideal period to make the holes is after the harvest. It is important to carry out this operation some time before planting in order to let the soil crumble and aerate in depth, especially in clay soil. Whatever the period, the soil must be appropriately drained and dried out: overly damp soil should be avoided. Clay soil can retain a lot of water, which can result in the sides of the holes becoming smooth.
The tools used must be adapted to the vineyard's environment, the soil type (hydromorphic, compacted, formation of hardpan) and the terrain.
Roots can be removed using a mini-excavator equipped with a shallow bucket, mounted on the agricultural machinery.
Traditionally, it is the planter/replanter auger that is used to dig the holes. These are augers that are mounted on tractors or crawlers.
Rotavators with high-speed rotating blades can also be mounted on the side of agricultural machinery.
Mounting on a tractor for replacement planting
Digging holes for replacement planting
The hole should be quite large, with a diameter of at least 30 cm, ideally around 50 cm. The optimal depth is between 40 and 60 cm.