Content
To maintain the high vital potential of the garden and obtain a stable harvest, it is extremely important to properly care for fruit trees. Therefore, it is recommended to bleach apple trees annually in the spring, as this procedure helps protect them from pests and diseases. In order for it to bring maximum benefit, you need to know how to carry it out correctly, what is the best way to treat trees, and when it is recommended to do it.
Whitewashing is a simple but effective way to protect apple trees.
Is it necessary and why to bleach apple trees in the spring?
Beginning gardeners believe that this maintenance procedure is carried out purely with the aim of increasing the decorativeness of the garden in the spring. However, this is wrong, since whitewashing can increase the resistance of trees to adverse external factors.
The bark is a protective barrier against pathogens and pests. But as a result of temperature changes, sunburn, and gusts of wind, its integrity is compromised.After all, if you compare the bark of a young and mature apple tree, then in the first case it is smooth and even, but in the second it is significantly roughened, cracked and peels off in some areas. Thanks to whitewashing, you can preserve the integrity of the apple tree bark for as long as possible, despite provoking factors.
The bright rays of the sun in spring quickly warm up the tree trunk, which activates the onset of sap flow. But since at night the air temperature still drops below 0 ° C, the liquid expands, which leads to cracking of the bark. In this case, whitewashing has a reflective effect, preventing early sap flow. And since the bark remains intact, this provides protection against the penetration of infections, viruses, bacteria and pest larvae into the tree tissue.
Is it necessary to whiten young apple trees in spring?
Experienced gardeners insist that whitewashing is needed not only for adults, but also for young apple trees. After all, it will significantly increase the immunity of trees and slow down the process of coarsening of the bark. However, for young apple trees it is necessary to use a solution of reduced concentration to avoid burns. In this case, the best option may be to use special paints that can be easily purchased in specialized stores.
When to bleach apple trees in spring
The effectiveness of the procedure directly depends on the timing of its implementation. It is recommended to bleach apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region and the Central region of the country at the end of February, at the beginning of March. During this period, the sun is already active during the day, and frosts are observed at night. In other regions of the country, deadlines may shift 7-10 days earlier or later.You can bleach apple trees in the spring at above-zero temperatures during the day before the leaves begin to bloom and the wintering pest larvae emerge. Therefore, it is also recommended to take into account weather conditions.
Whitewashing is important when there is a radical difference between day and night temperatures
Preparing an apple tree for whitewashing
In order for this procedure to benefit the apple tree, the tree must first be prepared. It is not recommended to ignore this stage, since otherwise the effectiveness of whitewashing in the spring will be questionable.
Barrel cleaning
First of all, it is recommended to clean the trunk and the base of the skeletal branches. But before this, you need to spread an oilcloth around the trunk so that, at the end of the procedure, you can collect and destroy all the cleaned areas that may contain pathogens and overwintering pest larvae.
Initially, it is recommended to remove moss and lichen growths from the apple tree to increase the effectiveness of whitewashing. This can be done with your hands wearing hard gloves or with plastic twine rolled into several layers. For more thorough cleaning, it is recommended to use an additional plastic sponge. In the future, cleaning of cracks and depressions in the barrel is required. To do this, you must use a wooden knife, since all metal tools can cause wounds.
Disinfection of wounds
Before spring whitewashing of apple trees against pests and diseases, it is also necessary to first treat wounds on the trunk and bases of skeletal branches. It is recommended to carry out this stage of preparation on a clear sunny day.
Bordeaux mixture is excellent for disinfection. It must be diluted directly on the day of use.It is recommended to spray the resulting composition evenly onto the bark, and apply it with a brush to hard-to-reach places.
In the absence of special fungicides, you can treat open wounds on the trunk with a folk remedy. To prepare it, you will need 1.5 kg of wood ash, pour 5 liters of hot water, and also rub 50 g of laundry soap into the solution and mix thoroughly. It is necessary to treat apple tree wounds with a still warm mixture.
Putty
The last preparatory step before spring whitewashing of the apple tree is to putty open wounds on the trunk. To do this, you can use a special talker. To prepare it, it is recommended to mix 500 g of clay, 250 g of mullein and a little chopped straw and water. The product should have a uniform composition and viscous consistency. They need to cover up all the wounds and cracks in the bark.
You can also use garden pitch to treat wounds. You can buy it in the store or prepare it yourself. To do this, you will need to melt one part of canefoli and two parts of beeswax, and then add part of the melted unsalted fat to the resulting mass. Form a lump from the resulting mixture without waiting for it to cool completely.
How to whiten apple trees in spring
To properly whiten apple trees in the spring, it is recommended not only to prepare the trees, but also to use a disinfectant composition. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommended means in advance and study their features.
The whiter the solution, the better it will protect the apple tree from overheating.
Pure lime
This is an environmentally friendly substance that does not harm the environment.In addition, lime is accessible and easy to use, which explains its high popularity among gardeners. But in order for whitewash based on this substance to protect the tree from pests and diseases, it is recommended to additionally add copper sulfate to it. Therefore, it must also be purchased in advance.
Recommended composition:
- 1 kg lime:
- 0.2 kg of copper sulfate;
- 8 liters of water.
It is recommended to leave the resulting mixture for two hours, and mix thoroughly before applying to the bark. Since it is not recommended to whiten young apple trees with lime in the spring, it can be replaced with chalk in the amount of 2 kg, and instead of copper sulfate, add 0.2 kg of mullein.
Clay
This component is characterized by high thermal insulation. At the same time, the clay has excellent adhesiveness, adheres well to the surface of the trunk, reflects the sun's rays, but does not clog the pores, which allows the apple tree to breathe fully. It also provides protection from hypothermia and cold gusts of wind.
To whitewash apple trees in the spring you need to use the following composition:
- 3 kg clay;
- 10 liters of water.
Mullein
This component, like the previous one, is well fixed on the bark. In addition, mullein is a natural organic fertilizer, therefore it additionally nourishes the apple tree and has a thermal insulation effect.
To prepare whitewash, it is recommended to mix 3 kg of the component and 10 liters of water, leave for a day and mix thoroughly.
Dye
Whitewashing apple trees in the spring with paint can greatly simplify the procedure. However, it is worth considering that in this case you will have to use chemicals that allow air to pass through but retain moisture in the bark. For whitewashing apple trees in the spring, the use of water-based and acrylic paints is allowed.Before processing, simply open the jar and mix the product thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous composition.
Paint stays on the trunk much longer than lime and chalk
Standard composition
There is a standard mixture that gardeners most often use to whiten apple trees in the spring. It is suitable for treating mature trees and helps fight pathogens and pest larvae.
To prepare an effective product you will need:
- 2.5 kg quicklime;
- 1 kg of clay;
- 10 liters of water.
Before treating trees, it is necessary to properly prepare the composition. After all, you can whiten apple trees in the spring only with slaked lime, so you need to first pour it separately with water in a ratio of 1 to 2 and mix it carefully. After the reaction is completed, it is necessary to add clay and the remaining liquid.
Burn protection
If there is a possibility of excessive exposure to sunlight on the apple tree trunk in the spring, it is necessary to use a special composition that forms a shiny reflective layer on the surface of the bark. To do this, you will need to mix 300 g of fluff lime, 100 ml of PVA glue and 2 liters of water. The composition must be applied to the dry bark in an even layer, carefully brushing all the cracks and depressions.
Protection against rodents, ants and fungus
If increased protection of fruit trees is necessary, a special product can be used. To prepare it, you need to mix 250 ml of PVA glue, 2 liters of water and 50 g of copper sulfate. You can also additionally add a little creolin to the composition, which will repel rodents.
Before applying the whitewash, it is recommended to stir it twice and let it sit for half an hour. The use of this composition in the spring helps protect apple trees from diseases and pests for a long time.
Shop whitewash
Now the range of ready-made whitewashes is so wide that choosing the appropriate composition in the store will not be particularly difficult even for a novice gardener. Such products are characterized by durability and ease of use.
The most popular brands:
- Hera.
- Latek.
- Alpha.
- Gardener.
- Emmix.
- Tex.
The drying time of professional paint after application to the trunk of an apple tree in the spring is an hour.
The applied paint is not washed off for one or two seasons
How to whiten apple tree trunks in spring
It is extremely important to whiten apple trees in the spring so that the mixture does not wash off for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations for the procedure, since only in this case will it be most beneficial for the tree and provide a long-term protective effect.
Basic rules for whitewashing adult and young apple trees in the spring:
- Before processing the trunk, it is necessary to remove the soil at the base of the tree several centimeters deep. Then you need to whitewash below ground level, and after the protective composition has completely dried, return the soil to its place.
- The barrel must be whitened evenly without gaps. It is recommended to pay special attention to cracks and depressions on the surface of the bark.
- It is also necessary to treat skeletal branches, covering them with the composition to 1/3 of their length, as well as forks.If you need to whiten columnar apple trees in the spring, this step should be skipped.
- Branches related to the crown are not subject to processing. After all, they are located at an angle to the sun and therefore do not heat up much.
- You need to bleach apple trees in the spring in the first half of the day so that the composition has time to dry before the evening.
- The thickness of the whitewash layer should be 2-3 mm, and if it is larger, it will begin to peel off and crumble. In this case, the procedure will have to be repeated.
Conclusion
Knowing how to bleach apple trees correctly in the spring, you can be sure that this procedure will soon bring a positive result. This significantly increases the yield of the tree and reduces the likelihood of it being damaged by pests and diseases to a minimum. However, it is worth understanding that whitewashing must be carried out regularly and within clearly defined periods. Otherwise, it can only increase the decorative value of the tree, but will not provide its protection in any way.
