Sheep fleeces helps ripen grapes and stop weeds

Trials show that sheep fleeces could be a potentially organic way of managing weed growth around the vine.

Sheep's wool stops weeds, with the lanolin in the wool repelling slugs and snails. The fleeces were trialled in Wales where the white wool reflected light, helping the ripening process.

Analysis of soil samples showed that as the fleeces broke down they were slowly releasing nutrients into the soil. With the value of some coarse style of wool currently very low, the research was undertaken to see if wool could be used as a base material for fertilisers sold in Ireland.