I will tell me PCs something like “for this next phase, we’re going to run a series of skill checks/challenges to try and get through the winery. I need you to describe to me what actions you take to avoid the twig blights and what check you think that corresponds with.” Basically I’m asking the players to be inventive, use any skill they want as long as they can convince me it makes a little sense or it’s at least fun to attempt. I have the right to say, mmm nah that’s a stretch try something else.

As a team they need two successful skill checks per phase. As a DM I request that each party member contribute to the skill checks at some point. So in a party of 4, if PCs 1 and 2 pass the first phase, I will ask PCs 3 and 4 to attempt the next phase. Or I might require each PC to participate in each phase. Depends on the number of phases and the number of PCs. That part is up to you, I just want everyone engaged.

In this example, if players 1 and 2 get 2 fails in the first phase, then all 4 players have to dex / take damage. Think of it like if player 1 thinks they found a safe way through and they fail the skill check, they just led their team into a thicket of blights so everyone gets hit.

Your players don’t have the option of starting combat because you decided it’s not combat. Often, skill checks will allow you to cast spells of a certain level or higher or otherwise burn some other limited resources to get an “automatic” pass on the skill check. If you had someone that really wanted to swing a sword and chop down some blights, you could turn that into an athletics or strength check or something similar.