Content
- 1 What is copper sulfate
- 2 Is it possible and why to spray an apple tree with copper sulfate?
- 3 What percentage of copper sulfate is suitable for spraying apple trees
- 4 How to dilute copper sulfate for treating apple trees
- 5 How to treat apple trees with copper sulfate
- 6 Precautionary measures
- 7 Conclusion
Treating apple trees with copper sulfate can be done 1-2 times per season. It is advisable to plan work in early spring and late autumn, when the tree has no leaves. The standard solution has a concentration of 3%, sometimes a diluted version of 1% is prepared. The rules and terms of application are described in the article.
What is copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is a common preparation for treating apple trees, fruit trees and shrubs, as well as other agricultural and ornamental crops. Chemically it is copper sulfate (CuSO4). The powder is a rich blue color and dilutes well with water, forming a solution of the same shade.
A solution of copper sulfate is used to treat apple trees as an antiseptic and fungicide. According to the type of action, it belongs to contact drugs. Penetrates into spores and fruiting bodies of fungi upon direct contact, disrupting metabolic processes, which leads to the death of pests.
Used in tank mixtures with various insecticides and fungicides. Copper sulfate is not phytotoxic and will not harm the apple tree.But after processing some varieties, a “net” appears on the fruits and foliage. This phenomenon is observed only after flowering - spring treatment of apple trees with copper sulfate is quite safe.
The drug belongs to low-toxic substances (class 3). It is not dangerous to humans and bees. Therefore, spraying can be carried out near apiaries. But it is better to exclude insects in the coming days.
The fungicide is affordable and has several important advantages:
- effective for preventive treatments and treatment;
- completely safe for apple trees;
- protects against various diseases;
- affordable;
- can be used for different crops;
- convenient to prepare.
There are not many disadvantages of copper sulfate, but they also exist. Treatment is carried out only in dry weather. The solution does not penetrate the plant tissue; it remains on the surface and is very easily washed off by rain. To prevent this, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of liquid soap (per 10 liters of water).
The drug is used for treatment only in early spring or late autumn. The rest of the time it can burn the foliage. In summer it is better to use safer fungicides or folk remedies.
Also among the conditional disadvantages is that vitriol does not help in the fight against insect pests. To do this you need to use effective insecticides.
The drug is produced in the form of crystalline powder
Is it possible and why to spray an apple tree with copper sulfate?
First of all, the drug is used for preventive purposes. Experienced gardeners know that treating apple trees with copper sulfate and other drugs is quite complicated.Many diseases, such as scab or powdery mildew, take a very long time to treat, in some cases they completely affect a seedling or tree, which is why it has to be uprooted.
The drug is effective for the prevention and treatment of plants from various fungal and bacterial infections: powdery mildew, mildew, moniliosis, scab, spotting.
The treatment also allows you to expel mites and dangerous apple moths from the surface layer of the bark. It is noted that if spraying is carried out in early spring or late autumn, most of the larvae and adult insects die (up to 70%). They hide under the bark, and with the onset of spring they come to the surface and eat leaves. Therefore, preventive treatment helps preserve the tree and the harvest.
Less commonly, the drug is used to compensate for copper deficiency in the soil. In this case, you can carry out summer treatment or water the soil with a weak solution (1% concentration).
What percentage of copper sulfate is suitable for spraying apple trees
Before you start spraying apple trees with copper sulfate in spring or autumn, you must clearly calculate the amount of the drug. The concentration depends on the purpose of use and the age of the apple tree:
- The standard solution for spraying mature trees in early spring and late autumn is 3%, i.e. 300 g per 10 l. This volume is enough for one medium-sized apple tree.
- To saturate the soil with copper, it is recommended to use a liquid of the same concentration of 3% (water the tree trunk circle with it). Moreover, this procedure needs to be repeated infrequently - once every five years is enough.
- For spraying young seedlings, the concentration is reduced to 1%, i.e. 100 g per 10 liters are diluted in water.
How to dilute copper sulfate for treating apple trees
A solution is prepared for processing.The instructions are quite simple:
- Prepare 1 liter of warm water (not scalding).
- Wear gloves.
- Measure out the required amount of the drug on a scale.
- Dilute in water, stirring constantly until completely dissolved.
- Then bring to a total volume of 10 liters.
- Mix again.
- Pour into the spray tank and start spraying.
The finished solution should look like this
The substance can also be used to prepare Bordeaux mixture. To obtain a 3% working solution, take 300-400 g of lime and dissolve it in cold water (2-3 l), then dilute to 5 l. The liquid is passed through gauze. Prepare a separate solution of copper sulfate (300 g per 2 liters of hot water). Then it is poured into the lime in a thin stream, mixed and brought to 10 liters with water. The result will be a sky blue solution. It is also used as an affordable fungicide.
How to treat apple trees with copper sulfate
Basically, the apple trees themselves are treated by spraying. Get a solution of the required concentration and pour it into a spray bottle. Then spray the liquid onto all above-ground parts of the plant. To water the soil, use a regular watering can. To ensure that the substance is distributed over the entire area, the tree trunk circle is watered evenly with a small stream.
Spraying apple trees with copper sulfate is carried out in spring and autumn. The main deadlines are:
- In the spring, work should begin even before the buds begin to bloom. In this case, it is desirable that the outside temperature be at least +5 degrees. For spraying use a standard solution of 3% concentration. The treatment is carried out completely - the trunk, skeletal branches, all shoots.
- Autumn treatment of apple trees with copper sulfate is carried out in the middle, second half of October, when the harvest is harvested and the leaves have fallen off. The tree trunk circle is first cleared of litter and debris. A solution of 3% concentration is also used for treatment. This is done in order to destroy the larvae of codling moths and mites that move to winter under the bark of the apple tree. It is also recommended in the fall to whiten the trunk to protect it from rodents and add a 1% solution of the substance to it.
Trees are also sometimes sprayed in the summer. This is done strictly in the period between the end of flowering and the beginning of fruit formation. Treatment is carried out only if there is a lack of copper in the soil - to compensate for the deficiency, it is enough to prepare a liquid with a concentration of 1%.
Processing begins in early spring
Precautionary measures
When treating apple tree trunks with copper sulfate, certain safety precautions must be observed.
- Despite the fact that the drug is low-toxic, it is better to work with the powder and solution while wearing gloves. It would be a good idea to wear protective clothing to prevent liquid from getting on your body.
- Do not drink, eat or smoke while working. The presence of children in the area should be excluded.
- If liquid gets on your body, wash with warm water and soap.
- If splashed into the eyes, rinse them under moderate pressure of running water.
- If the solution gets inside, you should take 8-10 tablets of activated carbon, chew them and wash them down with water.If signs of copper sulfate poisoning appear (nausea, vomiting, weakness), consult a doctor immediately.
Conclusion
Treating apple trees with copper sulfate is necessary to prevent fungal infections and some pests. To protect trees from diseases, it is recommended to spray young and mature trees every spring. If necessary, the treatment is repeated in late autumn.
