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Whitewashing the trunks of fruit trees in the fall is the final stage of pre-winter preparation of the orchard. This procedure is extremely important both from an aesthetic point of view and for the health of plants in general. After all, it allows you to better prepare trees for winter conditions, as well as destroy a significant part of the harmful insects and their larvae that use folds of bark as shelter for the winter.
The importance of autumn whitewashing of fruit trees
Whitewashing fruit trees in the fall performs several functions:
- decorative;
- protective;
- sanitary
Whitewashed trees look much more aesthetically pleasing, and a beautiful, well-kept garden can become a kind of calling card for its owner.
In addition, whitewashing protects well from sunburn and is also a good protection against rodents. Fungicides included in bleaching solutions kill pests and pathogens that overwinter in cracks and exfoliations of tree bark.
When is the best time to whiten fruit trees?
Traditionally, most gardeners prefer to whiten fruit trees twice a season - in early spring, before the buds bloom on the tree, and in late autumn, before the onset of cold weather. Undoubtedly, the more important is the autumn one, which performs much more functions. Spring whitewashing serves only the role of prevention and protection from pests, while autumn whitewashing, in addition, protects trunks from sunburn and frost, which is no less important.
The protective effect of whitewash against temperature changes is manifested in the ability of white color to reflect the sun's rays. On a bright sunny day in winter, and especially in early spring, dark tree trunks can heat up to + 20 ° C, while the air temperature remains negative. Particles of adhered snow turn into water, which flows into cracks in the bark. After sunset, the water freezes again, turning into ice, which, increasing in volume, simply breaks the tree bark. Whitened trunks practically do not heat up, and therefore much fewer cracks appear on them.
Whitewashing fruit trees in autumn: timing
Since winter comes to different regions of our country at different times, the timing of whitewashing fruit trees in different areas will be different. The optimal time for bleaching is the period after leaf fall, when the temperature is around zero. In the Moscow region and central Russia this is the end of October or the beginning of November. In Siberia and the Urals, winter comes earlier, so in these regions you can bleach fruit trees a little earlier. In the southern regions, whitewashing can begin in the middle or even the end of November.
Autumn whitewashing of fruit trees is one of the last stages of pre-winter preparation of an orchard.It is advisable to choose a dry, sunny day for work. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the long-term weather forecast, because if rain is still expected ahead, the applied whitewash may simply be washed off the trunks, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
Preparation of tools and materials
The following tools can be used to whitewash fruit tree trunks:
- roller;
- paint brushes;
- buckets;
- atomizer or sprayer (spray).
If necessary, you can easily make a homemade brush from a bunch of grass, pieces of synthetic twine or other fibrous material. With this tool you can easily whitewash several trunks. If the garden is quite large, it is more advisable to use a spray gun.
If whitewash gets on exposed skin or in your eyes, rinse them with plenty of clean water and, if necessary, go to the hospital.
Composition of whitewash for fruit trees
Various materials can be used as whitewash. The most popular of them are the following:
- Slaked lime solution.
- PVA glue.
- Acrylic paint.
- Water-based (water-dispersion) paint.
- Chalk.
As a rule, a fungicide, such as copper sulfate, is added to the bleaching solution. All compositions differ from each other in durability, breathability, and cost. The cheapest way to whiten fruit trees is to use slaked lime or chalk, but these materials are the most unstable and are easily washed off by rain.
For whitewashing any mature trees, you can use, for example, the following composition:
- slaked lime – 2.5 kg;
- PVA glue – 0.2 kg;
- copper sulfate – 0.5 kg.
Other whitening compounds are often used, adding clay, manure and other materials as components. To increase durability and better adhesion of the composition to the bark, instead of wood glue, laundry soap is often used, adding 1 piece grated to the whitewash per 10 liters of composition.
If funds allow, you can use ready-made water-based, water-dispersion or acrylic paints for whitewashing. They are highly durable, but not all are breathable. It is very important that the bark, especially of young trees and seedlings, breathes. Therefore, for whitewashing it is preferable to use paints intended for facade work, since they allow air to pass through.
Preparing trunks for whitewashing
Before you start whitewashing, you need to clean the bark of mosses and lichens. To do this, you can use a wooden scraper or a brush with hard plastic bristles. Iron scrapers and wire brushes should not be used; they can leave deep wounds on the bark, especially in young trees. This procedure is best carried out in humid weather, cleaning off all excess onto an oilcloth or plastic film underneath.
You should also remove all young growth on the tree trunk that grows below the first skeletal branches. Cracks and damage must be repaired with special putty or a mixture of mullein and clay. You can also use garden varnish based on natural resins for this.
After cleaning the barrel, it would be advisable to treat it with a solution of copper sulfate. This is an additional preventive measure that helps against both overwintering pests and pathogens of various diseases. To prepare a disinfection solution, you need to take 100 g of copper sulfate powder and dilute it in 10 liters of water. This mixture needs treat a tree trunk before whitewashing, however, most gardeners process not only the trunk, but also the entire crown.
Whitewashing fruit trees in autumn
The minimum height for whitewashing fruit trees in autumn is to the level of the first skeletal branches. In regions with little snow, this is quite enough. However, in climatic regions with a large thickness of snow cover, the lower skeletal branches are almost flush with the snow surface. This can lead to their damage by rodents or hares. To avoid this, the height of the whitewash should be increased to approximately 1.5 m, treating not only the trunk, but also the lower skeletal branches.
Mature trees are whitened, as a rule, in two layers. This measure makes it possible to paint the entire surface of the barrel more efficiently, ensuring that the whitening composition flows into all the cracks.
Seedlings and young fruit trees less than 5 years old are whitened with a breathable solution with a reduced content of the active substance. Older trees are painted by gradually going around the tree in a circle and applying the whitening compound from the very roots to the required height.
Garden care after whitewashing
If the whitewashing is carried out on time, after it all that remains is to carry out work on covering seedlings and young trees for the winter.In addition, you can install a special fence around them, which will prevent them from being damaged by rodents or hares. For this you can use metal mesh, wooden gratings and other materials.
Young trees and seedlings can be covered with spruce branches, bunches of reeds, cardboard boxes or special shelters made from wooden slats and covered with thick paper or burlap. Also, to protect fruit trees from cold and wind, a non-woven covering material can be used, from which a kind of bag is constructed, which is put on top and then fixed at the bottom with twine.
Conclusion
Whitewashing the trunks of fruit trees in the fall is not only a way to give the garden a beautiful, well-groomed look. It reduces the likelihood of damage to tree trunks by sun and frost, and is also a good way to combat pests that hibernate on the tree. Whitewashing is the most affordable way to prevent diseases and protect the garden, especially in winter.
