The logical end of the season for each gardener is the autumn work. And it is mainly about plant protection. Actually, by this expression we mean actions for cleaning and whitewashing trees. This is necessary so that next year they remain as healthy and strong. Whitewashing of apple trees in autumn is important for protecting them from exposure to insects and harmful microorganisms.
What is it for?
Autumn is not only about gardening. At this time, gardeners are directing their efforts to clear the land of weeds and renew plants with new seedlings.
First of all, the trunks of apple trees must be cleaned, and then - whitened. These are very important actions. And they are aimed at preserving the bark of trees. After all, this is their protective layer. It is the autumn whitewash of apple trees that allows us to take care of the plant. The effects of the sun, rain, wind and freezing lead to cracking of the bark and the appearance of serious defects, whole crevices, which will become very convenient shelters for the wintering of many insects, including pests. And our goal is to prevent this. After all, any crack is a real breeding ground for diseases. Therefore, if you do not carry out the necessary processing of the tree in time, then do not ask yourself where the scab and fruit rot come from in the garden. Usually, the processing and preparation of apple trees for winter begins at the end of September. All work should be completed before stable frosts begin.
Barrel pre-cleaning
Whitewashing of the trunk of the apple tree is possible only after cleaning it. Otherwise, it will not be so effective. Initially, to collect the peeled bark around the tree, you need to lay a dense fabric or tarp. All damaged areas on the plant stem must be carefully and thoroughly cleaned, waste must be collected to prevent them from falling to the ground. A special tool is required to operate. A garden scraper is best. If you don’t have one, you can use a standard metal brush. Cleaning is usually accompanied by raising a large amount of dust around the tree, so it is better to protect your eyes with plastic glasses and your hands with gloves. Processing the trunk should be done quite carefully, slowly, so as not to damage living tissue on the tree, otherwise your actions can only do harm. It should be remembered that young seedlings should not be thoroughly cleaned. Their bark has not yet formed, it is still elastic. The maximum that can be done is to lightly brush their trunks. But do not be zealous. When all the peeled bark is collected, then it must be taken out of the garden and destroyed. The easiest way is to burn it so that harmful bacteria no longer spread in your garden.
Whitewash goals
Some gardeners neglect the autumn whitewashing of apple trees, not knowing the important reasons for this procedure and mistakenly assuming that spring treatment of the trunk with lime is quite enough. But it should be borne in mind that during the season a large number of pathogens of various diseases and harmful spores accumulated on the tree. That is why the whitewashing of apple trees in autumn is very important, since pathogenic microorganisms die when exposed to lime. In addition, a tree trunk treated with such a solution is not exposed to sunburn and frostbite so much. After all, if you do not protect your garden plants in the fall, then in the winter they can simply die, especially when it comes to young seedlings.
Autumn whitewash composition
In order for the procedure to have the expected result, the correct solution should be prepared. Since the whitewashing of apple trees has become quite popular, even mandatory, the composition of the product does not need to be prepared on its own. Now you can buy the ready-made solution in the store, although an experienced gardener prefers to do everything and check independently, so that everything works out correctly.
The components of the barrel treatment are: 10 liters of water, 2.5 kilograms of lime, 0.5 kg of copper sulphate and 100 grams of wood glue. Stir the solution thoroughly so that all ingredients can dissolve. Then leave it all for a few hours. The main function of this procedure is disinfection. But for whitewashing of apple trees in autumn to be effective, it must be carried out systematically. A single treatment will not have a long-term effect.
How to whiten apple trees?
Whitewashing apple trees in autumn with lime is undoubtedly an important procedure. But it should be carried out correctly. It is not necessary to say that whitewashing is done only for beauty. This is not ordinary painting, but the protection of trees from all kinds of damage. Therefore, it’s worth whitening not only the lower part of the apple tree, but also the foundations of the largest branches. Thus, processing is carried out at a level of at least 1.5 meters. Young apple trees whiten to the place where the trunk begins to branch. Now it is necessary to correctly determine the time of whitewashing. It must be a dry, better clear day. Such weather will allow the solution to "seize" well and dry. Whitewashing during wet weather or even in rain will not have the desired effect. Water will simply wash away the lime.
Some nuances
Whitewashing of apples in the fall is usually carried out in relation to the "adult" trees that have already begun to bear fruit. Young seedlings bought and planted for the winter should not be cultivated. Since lime can simply clog pores, preventing the full development of the plant, which can even lead to its death. At the same time, the trunks of such apple trees still need to be protected, so it is better to tie them with agrofibre. You should not use a plastic film for this, it will only accumulate moisture and provoke the development of fungi and mold on the trunk. If damage to the trunk was noticed during the cleaning of the apple tree, then they should be treated with a garden vare. If it was not already at hand, the healing mixture can be prepared independently. It is made on the basis of clay, in which manure and copper sulfate are added. The mixture in consistency should resemble sour cream. Processing can be carried out either with a regular brush or with a spray gun.
Often, apple trees are whitened not only to protect the trunks from insects and mechanical damage, but also in order to prevent attacks by different rodents.