Whitewashing trees in spring - treating fruit trees from pests
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Gardeners have a hot season after winter. Some work is urgent, for example, whitewashing trees in the spring. Even fulfilling this duty on time, many do it just out of habit, making many mistakes and negating the beneficial effect.
Why trees are whitewashed
Many people living both in the city and in the countryside have a vague idea of why trees are whitewashed. Most believe that this is done simply for beauty. They are partly right, but there are still more important reasons for treating trunks.
Correctly whitewashed wood
Why are tree trunks whitewashed:
- Sun protection. Direct rays are dangerous for the bark, which cracks under their influence. Therefore, tree trunks are treated with compositions of precisely white, reflecting light, color scheme. It is noteworthy that in winter the sun is not weaker in its effect than in summer, so it is important to protect trees all year round.
- Protection from pests. Many gardeners know firsthand how often the bark of fruit trees is attacked by insects and rodents. Whitewashing repels pests.
- Protection against temperature extremes. Daytime heat and nighttime cold cause the bark to deform and crack, which often leads to various kinds of infections entering the trunk. Whitewashing helps to strengthen the bark, prevents cracking, and has antibacterial properties.
When to whitewash trees
Many people believe that whitewashing of trees is carried out only in early spring. In fact, the spring treatment of the trunk is intended only to renew the layer of the composition, which was slightly washed off during the winter. For many, the real news is the fact that the main work is carried out in the fall.
It is during the winter period that the tree especially needs protection. In February, when the sun is already perceptibly warming up, and at night there are still severe frosts, the most dangerous period begins. During the day, the process of sap flow may begin in the trunk, by the evening the liquid will freeze and injure the bark. That is why it is important to whitewash in advance, in the fall. If this has not been done, the trunks will have to be processed in the winter, in December-January.
Timing of whitewashing trees in autumn
It is best to carry out autumn processing in October-November, when the leaves have already crumbled, and the prolonged rains are left behind. It is necessary to choose a dry, cool day when the air temperature will be kept at the level of 2-3 ° C.
How to whitewash tree trunks
It is not difficult to whitewash a tree - just take a paint brush and apply a treatment compound to the trunk. It is advisable to paint over the stem from the very bottom, going 2 cm deep into the soil, to the roots, to the first branches.It is convenient to handle fruit from a spray gun, but this will increase the consumption of whitewash.
You should not save whitewashing - it will not bring the desired result.
Coating half of the barrel with whitewash is not considered effective.
Lime for whitewashing trees
Protection from pests and diseases is the main thing for which trees are whitened. Lime does an excellent job with this function. Solutions based on it are easy to use, the components used are not distinguished by a high price. As a rule, casein glue (or PVA) is added to the composition so that the whitewash holds better, and copper sulfate (as an antiseptic).
To process a large tree, you will need about 1 kg of lime. It is not recommended to process young trees with such an aggressive composition.
Is it possible to whiten with water-based paint
Water-based paints are quite suitable for coloring the trunks. They are distinguished by their higher price and ease of use - no additional components need to be added. However, they are considered not as effective as lime-based solutions.
White for trees
In specialized stores, you can find a variety of whitewash preparations: from acrylic to chalk. Substances with reflective and antibacterial properties are added to their composition, which makes it possible to solve several problems at once.
How to dilute lime for whitewashing
Lime is well known not only to builders, but also to gardeners. This substance is often used to treat mature tree trunks. Its antibacterial properties make it possible to protect the stem and branches from the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms.
Fluff lime
How exactly to work with lime depends on its type.
How to prevent limescale from washing off
So that the lime does not wash off the trees for a long time, you will need to add additional components to the whitewash. There are 2 main options for tree treatment mixtures:
- 1 kg of lime and 2 kg of clay per 10 liters of water. In this composition, clay plays the role of a fixer.
- 3 kg of lime, 300 g of vitriol and 200 g of casein glue per 10 liters of water. The glue adheres to the bark, preventing the composition from draining under the snow and rain.
How to breed slaked lime (fluff)
Fluff lime is a slaked type of lime that can be sold as a batter or powder. It is diluted in a 2: 1 ratio, that is, for 1 kg of a loose or pasty composition, 2 liters of water are taken. In this case, water is poured in carefully, in portions, thoroughly mixing the composition. You should get the consistency of sour cream.
As additional components, you can use:
- Glue (200 g), acting as an adhesive;
- Laundry soap (40 g in the form of shavings) to enhance the antibacterial effect;
- A solution of copper sulfate (300 g per 0.5 water) instead of soap;
- Clay (300-400 g), dissolved in water to the consistency of sour cream, it is added to the solution as an adhesive.
How to dilute quicklime
Despite the fact that it is more convenient and faster to work with slaked lime, gardeners often advise beginners to use quicklime, or rather extinguish it on their own. With the observance of security measures, this is not difficult to do.
How to extinguish lime:
- Pour lime (3 kg) into a bucket.
- Fill gently with water (7 l).
- Stir the composition and leave for 1-2 hours until the reaction is over.
When the container cools down (heat is released during quenching), you can add other components to the solution, the same as for fluff.
Is it possible to whitewash trees with chalk
It is quite possible to replace lime in the whitewashing composition with chalk.This substance has a more gentle effect, therefore it is often used to treat young trees.
The following mixture is popular among gardeners: 2 kg of chalk, 400 g of copper sulfate, 100 g of casein glue per 10 liters of water.
Whitewashing process
Treat the wood in the same way as with lime whitewash, having previously cleaned the bark with a brush.
Other types of pest control
For pest control to be as effective as possible, whitewashing alone is not enough. It is also necessary to set traps (trapping belts), the main thing is to treat the trees with insecticides.
How to spray trees in spring
Before spraying, the bark of the tree is cleaned from exfoliated areas, lichens, adhering dirt. It is convenient to do this with a stiff brush. You can put a tarp on the ground to make it easier to clean up the poured debris.
After that, it is worth inspecting the barrel for damage. If there are open areas without bark, it is advisable to cover them with garden pitch.
Then you need to wear a protective suit or old tight clothing with long sleeves, gloves and a mask. Be sure to have a hat.
Prepare a solution of the drug, according to the instructions, and pour it into the spray bottle. Spray branches, trunk and trunk circle, trying not to miss anything.
When to spray
Do not delay with the beginning of the treatment of fruit insecticides. Insects wake up from the first heat, so if the spring is good, the time to spray is already in March. The most convenient time for whitewashing and spraying comes in April.
The maximum effect can be achieved by treating the trees twice. The first spraying is carried out before bud break, when the air temperature is set at 5 ° C. At this time, fungal spores are already activated.
The second spraying is carried out on a green cone, that is, when the buds have already opened, but the leaves have not yet bloomed. At this time, flower-eating pests wake up.
Spraying in early spring
In spring, it is permissible to sprinkle fruit trees for treatment twice more: at the stage of a rose bud and an ovary, the size of a pea. This will save the crop from moniliosis and apple moth.
Preparations for spraying trees
There are many medications available to help rid your garden of pests.
How to spray trees in spring, the most effective drugs:
- Copper sulfate. It can not only be added to whitewashing, but also used for spraying. Vitriol copes well with various types of rot, scab, spotting. Iron vitriol has the same properties;
- Urea (urea). It is often used as a fertilizer, but it also brings considerable benefits in pest control. Fights coccomycosis, moniliosis, rot;
- Bordeaux liquid. An irreplaceable assistant to the gardener, who can handle trees and shrubs before flowering.
Knowing how and when to whitewash trees in spring, you can save the crop from many troubles. Lime copes well with pests, diseases and destruction of the bark. No less effective chalk and acrylic-based paints. A solution with additional components will hold for a long time, preventing the trees from getting sick.
