Some time ago, whitewashing of trees in spring was a traditional event of April subbotniks. For this reason, it is possible that some gardeners begin gardening precisely with this event: elegant trees seem to proclaim the end of winter. But there are other opinions, according to which the solution interferes with the normal development of plants during the period of awakening after winter, and, therefore, whitewashing of garden trees in the spring is carried out more for beauty, and not for profit.
Why is it necessary to whiten trees
Trees are treated with special solutions to protect the bark from many external stressors such as the sun, frost and waking garden pests. Therefore, it is possible to whitewash trees for treatment and prevention twice a year.
When to whiten trees
Only autumn whitewash is able to fully fulfill its main purpose and help trees such as apple and cherry trees winter. It should be carried out in a period when the leaves are already dropped, but there is still no snow and frost (usually in the second half of October or a little later). It is better to choose a sunny day so that the paint can dry quickly and not rinse off.
Since there are few whitewash formulations that last long enough on trees, whitewashing of trees in spring is highly desirable. It must be carried out in March or in early April. This allows you to not only protect the bark from the strong spring rays of the sun, but also help to cope with some harmful wintering insects.
How to do it right whitewashing of trees. Barrel cleaning
Old trees usually have a very heterogeneous bark, covered with various cracks, growths, furrows, moss, etc. Such a surface is whitened very hard, and the solution can not last so long. Therefore, for the health of trees and for the convenience of whitewashing, the trunk should be cleaned. For these purposes, special scrapers are available for sale, but you can use ordinary fabric gloves. They will make it possible to clean the bark of trees quite carefully and without any damage. Performing work with a metal scraper is a little easier, but great care is required, since it is possible to clean a healthy bark by accident.
During the cleaning process, moss and growths are removed, as well as the dead old layer of the bark, which will subsequently be replaced by a new one. All this is home to harmful insects. All garbage should be burned.
Disinfection and treatment of injuries
Not all types of whitewashing can effectively destroy pests, so it is recommended to pre-treat the bark with a special disinfectant. For this, you can use a solution of copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture or other drugs. It is important to apply them so that the tree trunk is covered with a solution, but drops do not drip from it. It is best to use a fine spray gun. Strong chemicals should not be used regularly, because they tend to accumulate and harm both the tree and you.
If the house has ash, you can make it a wonderful remedy for harmful insects. In addition, it can also serve as a top dressing. It is done as follows: 2-3 kg of ash are diluted in 10 liters of water and a small piece of soap is added. This treatment is carried out on a sunny day.
Existing cracks or wounds on the bark are treated with a special tool to protect wood and accelerate healing. It is best to use a garden var. As a rule, experienced gardeners do it themselves. There are many recipes. The easiest option is to make a clay chatter with mullein and straw. She is not very persistent, but still can serve for some time.
Whitewashing
It is most convenient to whiten trees with a spray gun. This allows you to save time and well paint over all the bumps and indentations. But this will require more solution, and not everyone has the device itself. Therefore, brushes corresponding to the thickness of the trunk are more often used.
Whitewashing of trees in spring is performed from the bottom up to the first branches. Often the trunk is whitened only one meter high or even lower. But frost and pests can harm the tree and higher. Cracks often appear in the fork between large branches. Therefore, the composition must be applied quite high, as well as staining the warp of the lower branches.
Which is better to use means
Compositions for whitewashing are very different, and their purpose is different. Simple whitewashing trees with lime in spring is not very effective, as it is washed off after several rains. Clay, glue or manure should be added to the lime for better pestering (which is available). For better protection, vitriol is added to the whitewash.
Of great importance in whitewashing is the age of the tree. Older ones can withstand more additives. Young seedlings need to be whitened more carefully. Only chalk or lime is used to whitewash trees with natural additives, because they have a rather delicate skin that cannot be clogged with glue (they will not be able to breathe normally and will slow down in growth).
If you don’t have time to search and breed all the components on your own, there is also a ready-made whitewash for sale. Glue and protective additives have already been added to its composition, and at the same time, it allows you to “breathe”. Whitewash is sold in diluted or dry form (it should be diluted with water according to the instructions). Acrylic paint for whitewashing is undesirable. Although it looks, of course, beautiful and does not wash off much longer. Trunks turn out elegant, bright, snow-white, but they do not breathe at all.
We propose to consider what kind of whitewashing of fruit trees in spring can have.
Whitewashing of trees in spring: composition of lime, glue, clay and vitriol
The advantage of this mixture is that it adheres well, does not wash off for a long time, and is environmentally friendly. Suitable for mature trees.
Dilute in water (about half a bucket) 50 g of wallpaper glue. After it disperses well, add 2 kg of slaked lime and 400 g of vitriol diluted with very hot water. Add 1 kg of clay and 1 kg of manure. You can use 100 g instead of wallpaper glue . wood glue. Stir the composition well until smooth. In density, it should be similar to sour cream.
Composition of lime, clay and copper sulfate
This mixture has been used for many years, but still has not lost its popularity among gardeners.
Whitewashing of trees in spring, the composition of lime, clay and vitriol has the following. Put up 2.5 kg of lime with water. This is done in this way: 6 liters of water are poured into a bucket and lime is poured. Be sure to cover the bucket with a lid and let it boil, so to speak. After about 15-20 minutes, the lime will stop spraying. Now you need to add 300 g of vitriol, previously diluted in hot water. To make the mixture thicker and better stick, add 2 kg of clay. The solution should be well mixed so that it becomes thicker and does not have lumps. It is better to cover trees with such a composition in two layers.
Composition for young seedlings and trees
Here you can use only environmentally friendly and simplest ingredients that do not clog pores on young seedlings.
The composition is as follows: mix 2 kg of slaked lime with 1 kg of manure and 1-1.5 kg of clay. Then add water until a consistency of thick sour cream is obtained.
Clay and manure have disinfecting and fixing properties. This composition can be used to whitewash all trees, not just young ones.
The composition is applied with a wide brush. Start whitewashing from above and move down.