Whitewash garden trees must be carried out by a special team. Look for recipes in the article.
In winter, trees become a wintering place for rodents, insects and other pests. From this they can get sick and even die. Therefore, all trees, especially fruit trees, need to be whitewashed twice a year - in autumn and spring.
What is whitewashing of fruit trees, apple trees for?
Many people perfectly understand what bark is for a tree and why various nasty insects grow in it. But not everyone knows what whitewash is for fruit trees, apple trees?
- The bark is to the trunk, like leather to humans. She is an obstacle and protects against negative impact atmospheric phenomena, wind, frost, sunshine, rodents and insects.
- The bark, like the skin, gets burns from the sun, frostbite, can flake and crack. Such injury leads to the penetration of diseases and insect larvae into the trunk.
- The tree's immunity weakens, after which it withers and dies. Therefore, trees need to be protected. For this, whitewash is needed.
Thanks to such manipulations, the bark will not crack, and insects will not be able to lay larvae in it. The lime layer will protect against scalding rays and frost.
What trees are whitened in spring and autumn, at what age?
Fruiting mature trees need to be painted twice in 12 months - with the onset of warmth after winter and when the foliage turns yellow and falls. For seedlings, the procedure is carried out when the bark young tree will become rough. It is not recommended to paint the smooth trunk of small trees. Have different types trees, the ripening stages of the upper layer are different, therefore, they are guided precisely by the degree of its roughness.
When is it better to whitewash fruit trees: in autumn or spring?
As mentioned above, it is better to paint trunks with fruit crowns twice a year: with the arrival of the cool season and with the onset of warmth. Front winter period this will protect the barrel from low temperatures, rodents and insects that settle under the bark for the winter. In the spring, whitewashing protects the bole from the scalding summer heat and pests.
When, at what air temperature in spring to whitewash fruit trees in Russia, in the Moscow region, in the middle lane, in the Urals, Belarus, in March: terms
In the spring, you need to apply the coloring mass to the boles in March-April, depending on the climate of your region.
- In Belarus, Moscow region and middle lane Russian air warms up faster, so processing is done in March.
- It is much colder in the Urals, and spring comes later, so you need to whitewash the garden in April.
- Experienced gardeners are guided by nature, and perform whitewashing when small animals and insects have not yet emerged from their holes.
Therefore, there are no exact dates. It all depends on how early or late spring is.
When and how to whiten trees in autumn: timing, air temperature
After the heat has subsided, whitewashing is performed at the end of autumn.
- Gardeners are usually guided by a slight cold snap, the temperature outside should drop to 2-3 degrees.
- When the trees are completely cleared of leaves, you can safely start whitening the trunks in the garden.
- The dye composition will help protect the bole from damage, low temperatures and the formation of icing, which is dangerous for thermophilic trees.
- You need to whitewash the trunks with a specially prepared compound or paint purchased from a store and intended for this process.
The main thing is that the surface of the barrel after the application of the dye becomes white, can let air pass through, and the paint is slowly washed off. Basically, gardeners produce whitewashing with the following compositions:
- A solution of lime mass is not too high concentration. If the fluff is thick, dilute the mixture with water in half.
- Special water-based emulsion or acrylic for trees. You can buy them at any hardware store.
- Silver biomask.
To make the composition better "lay down" on the surface of the bark and hold longer, you need to add to it additional ingredients... Read on for more details.
How best to prepare trees for whitewashing: description of work
Tree in the garden - prepared and painted
For the barrel paint process to be effective, the surface must be prepared. You need to whitewash when it's dry outside, the sun is shining. What is the best way to prepare trees for whitewashing? Description of work:
- The day before work, spread a film under the crown.
- Then you need to clean the trunk of cracked bark, moss, lichens and other growths... Do this with your hands, be sure to wear gloves. Don't use metal to avoid damaging your healthy bark. You can scrape off the growths from the trunk with a stiff washcloth or plastic rope folded in several layers.
- Wooden stick you can gently clean out any indentations and dimples.
- Collect and burn all scraped off, but not in the perimeter of the garden, as in the "bad" bark can be harmful insects and pathogens.
- Then disinfect the surface... Buy and dilute according to the instructions HOM (special disinfectant) or a copper-containing preparation with a Bordeaux mixture. Wash the bark with this solution.
- Closing open grooves and wounds- this is the next preparatory stage. Any putty will do. It can be made at home: Melt 200 grams of beeswax and 100 grams of rosin in a water bath. Also add 100 grams of lard, wait for all the ingredients to dissolve. Pour the resulting slurry into cool water, make a lump. Take pieces of this boiled product and cover up any wounds on the trunk. If the mass hardens, then it can be slightly warmed up in a water bath.
After carrying out all the stages of preparation, you can paint the boles of trees.
What to make the basis for whitewashing trees in the garden: three components
Gardeners know many different recipes for making a whitewash mixture. The main thing is that there should be three main components in it:
- white coloring matter (chalk, lime)
- gluten (PVA glue, laundry soap, clay, milk)
- disinfectant ( copper sulfate)
Additional ingredients can be added to these ingredients for greater effectiveness: casein glue and others.
How to whitewash fruit trees so that the whitewash does not wash off, what to add to the whitewash?
If the boles are whitewashed only with lime, then in a couple of weeks the layer of lime will be washed off by the rains. How to whitewash fruit trees so that the whitewash does not wash off, what to add? In order for the whitewash to be stable, you need to add silicate or wood glue - 1% of the total composition of the mixture. If you want to add, for example, clay, then you need to put at least 1 kilogram of this ingredient. This secret of sustainable whitewashing is known to every experienced gardener.
How to extinguish and dilute lime, fluff lime for whitewashing trees: proportions
Lumps of limestone are quicklime mass. Before starting to paint, this mass must be extinguished. To do this, the lumps are filled with water, a violent reaction will begin with the release of heat. How to extinguish and dilute a lime mass, a fluff mass for whitewashing boles - these are the correct proportions:
- To obtain fluff - 1 part of limestone is poured with 1 part of water.
- Lime paste - 1 part lime and 1.5 parts water.
- Lime milk - 1 part lime and 3 parts water.
To prepare the coloring mass, you need to mix the following ingredients: 2.5 kg of fluff, 10 liters of water and a little glue. Lime dough will need - 3 kg, and lime milk is diluted in half with water.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with lime: composition
To prepare a mass for bole paint, you need a bucket or other container in which it is easy to combine and stir all the ingredients. Here is a recipe for making a whitening mixture for boles with fruit crowns using lime - the composition:
- 2.5 kg of fluff
- 10 liters of water
- 60-100 grams of silicate, wood glue, PVA glue or flour paste
Mix all these ingredients and apply to the stem with a brush. Instead of an adhesive, you can put 1 kg of clay diluted with water into the mixture.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with water-dispersion paint: composition
Many fruit growers believe that dyeing the trunks of fruit trees with slaked lime mass is an old "old-fashioned" method. Therefore, they use water emulsion and water dispersion paint. But do not buy paintwork white, for gardening you need to purchase a special white mass marked "for garden trees."
Despite the fact that this is a persistent coloring substance, it will last no more than 2 months on a tree trunk. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a special composition with the addition of glue. Here is a recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with water-dispersion paint - composition:
- 1 liter of water-based paint
- 3 tablespoons of PVA glue
- copper sulfate - 200 grams
Mix all the ingredients well to combine. The paint will be protective layer from frost and sun. Do not forget to put in a copper-containing mixture to keep the bark from harmful insects from the mixture.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with water-based paint: composition
As mentioned above, modern gardeners use a coloring composition instead of a lime mass. water based... In the recipe for whitewashing mass for fruit trees with water-based paint, additional ingredients should be present, as well as in the composition with water-based paint. The mixture should be prepared like this:
- Pour 1 liter of water emulsion into a larger bowl.
- Put 2-3 tablespoons of PVA glue.
- Copper sulfate - 0.2 kg. Pre-dilute it warm water, cool and pour into the solution. Stir all ingredients well.
Such a coating will stay on the surface of the trunk for a long time and protect the wood from the harmful effects of the atmosphere, cold weather and pests.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with chalk: composition
Lime mass and chalk powder are the most cheap option for the manufacture of whitewash liquid. The lime recipe was posted above. This ingredient must be extinguished with water in advance, and only then can the mixture be prepared. Here is a recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with chalk - the composition:
- Chalk powder - 2 kg
- Joiner's glue - 100 grams
- Clay - up to one kg (pre-soak)
- Copper-containing preparation (copper sulfate) - two hundred grams. First, you need to fill it with warm water and cool.
Water is added to this composition so that the solution turns out to be the consistency of thick sour cream. Stir all the ingredients well and get to work.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with copper sulfate: composition
- Water - seven liters
- Copper-containing preparation - three hundred grams
- Clay mass - up to one kg
In this composition, clay plays the role of a binder. It must first be soaked in water and lumps removed. Such a solution will protect well from frost, sunlight and pests.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with PVA glue: composition
If no glue is added to the whitewash mixture, then the rains will wash off such a coating within 1.5-2 months after application. Therefore, gardeners must add special glue to the whitewash solution. Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with PVA glue - composition:
- Slaked lime mass - 2 kg
- Clay without lumps - 1 kg
- Fungicide - 200-300 grams
- PVA glue - 100 grams
Soak the clay beforehand. Combine all the ingredients and add water so that the mixture has the consistency of thick sour cream. The applied layer should not be thicker than 2-3 mm, but also not run down the trunk. It should lie flat on the bark, creating good protection.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with casein glue: composition
Casein glue in recent times is gaining in popularity in garden work... It is a natural animal glue made from casein - milk protein. It perfectly binds the whitewash mixture and does not harm the tree trunk, as it is natural. Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with casein glue - composition:
- 8 liters of water
- 300 grams of copper sulfate
- 2 kg slaked lime mass
- 100g casein glue
If you do not have such glue, then it can be replaced with carpentry or PVA.
Recipe for making whitewash for fruit trees with flour paste: composition
Flour paste is also natural ingredient, which is often added to whitewash mixtures for trees. It is simple to prepare it:
- Stir 300 grams of flour in 1 liter of water.
- When all the lumps are mixed, put the mixture on low heat. Do not leave the stove until the solution boils. Stir constantly.
- When the glue boils, turn off the gas. Set aside to cool.
When the glue has cooled to room temperature, you can prepare a recipe for whitewashing for fruit trees with flour paste - composition:
- Slaked lime mass - 2 kg
- Copper sulfate - 200 grams
- Flour paste - 1 kg
- Water - 8-9 liters
Add water in small portions, stirring all the ingredients. The paste will allow the mixture to stick well to the trunk and not drain after the first rain.
How to whitewash young fruit trees?
The whitewash mixture for young trees should not be too thick so that the bark can "breathe", grow and develop. How to whitewash young fruit trees? Here are some tips:
- Lime mass for young seedlings must be liquid... It is better to use milk of lime, which must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 4.
- Instead of PVA glue you need to use casein glue or flour paste.
- Instead of copper sulfate add manure and clay.
Here is a recipe for a safe whitewash for a young tree:
- 10 liters of water and 2 kg of lime slurry - mix.
- Add 200 grams of clay, 100 grams of manure mixed in water and a glass of milk.
A layer of whitewash from this solution will hold out on the surface of the bark for 3-4 months. Then the whitewashing process must be repeated.
Can you whitewash cherry trunks with lime?
Many young gardeners believe that only apple tree trunks should be whitened. But this is wrong thinking. It is necessary to whitewash all fruit trees, and stone fruits in particular! Their growth requires calcium, which is found in limestone and chalk. In addition, it is necessary not only to whitewash the trunks of cherries, plums, peaches with lime, but also to water the ground under the tree with this solution 1-2 times per season.
What is the correct way to whiten tree trunks with what brush?
Our grandparents also whitewashed trees with special sponge brushes. They are safe for the barrel and paint over all rough surfaces well.
Modern gardeners use flange brushes. With their help, the solution is saved and they do an excellent job with whitewashing both young and adult trees.
You can also use a roller or spray gun. Regardless of the tools chosen and the composition of the whitewash, tree trunks should only be painted in dry weather. Thanks to this, the white layer will dry well and will be resistant to precipitation.
Why are trees not whitewashed in Europe?
If you like to travel, you probably noticed that trees and curbs are not whitewashed in Europe.
- In Russia, whitewashing curbs is a Soviet military tradition.
- Trees are whitewashed every spring to protect them from pests and sun damage.
- In Europe, instead of lime, another disinfecting composition is used, which is invisible after application, for example, copper sulfate.
Winter in Europe is not so harsh, so tree trunks do not need additional protection from severe frosts.
Is it necessary and possible to whitewash the trunks of fruit trees in summer, autumn?
Autumn whitewashing is the most important and should not be missed. But is it necessary and possible to whitewash the trunks of fruit trees in summer? If you whitewashed the garden in the spring, and the solution washed off in the summer rains, then the procedure must be repeated in July. Then whitewashing must be performed in October-November, that is, in spring and autumn, trees must be whitewashed without fail, and in summer - at your discretion.
Every gardener dreams of growing up with him beautiful garden which will give good harvest... Whitewashing of trees is a necessary and useful procedure... Do it in the fall and spring when the tree bark is dry and your garden will bloom, thrive and produce tasty fruits.
Video: Super whitewashing fruit trees in spring and autumn
The autumn season in the garden ends with whitewashing of trees. It would seem that there is nothing easier than this work, nevertheless it raises many questions among gardeners, especially beginners. To which we asked the candidate of biological sciences Raisa MATVEEVA to answer.
When to start autumn whitewashing? And what is the deadline?
The optimal period is from mid-October to mid-November, in dry, clear weather.
Does whitewashing treat wood?
If the trunk of an adult fruit tree is "dressed" with coarse bark with formed folds, cracks, roughness, garden pests can settle in them for wintering. In this case, the whitewash is not
only protects the bark from sunburn, and at the same time disinfects and protects the plant from wintering pests, fungal diseases, also fights against mosses and lichens.
Is it necessary to peel off the old bark from the tree before whitewashing?
The trunk and main skeletal branches of the tree are conductors nutrients... They should thicken evenly and match each other. Their uniform thickening depends on the state of the bark. Sick, rough bark compresses the conducting vessels and thereby prevents the supply of nutrients from the leaves to the roots and vice versa. In addition, dead bark again becomes a refuge for pests. Therefore, it and the mosses and lichens that settle on it must be removed from the tree annually with the help of metal scrapers, wire brushes on an oilcloth previously laid under the plant. After that, all cleanings are burned, and the stem and the base of the crown are whitewashed.
What if the barrel is damaged? Whitewash the wound?
First, you need to heal the damage - clean it up to living tissue, disinfect, apply garden var, and only then whiten.
Should young trees be whitewashed?
Undesirable: the solution clogs the pores of the bark and slows down gas exchange. On the entire bole of young fruit trees, starting with just planted and ending with 6-8-year-olds (i.e. until the plant forms a coarse bark), for protection, including from mice and hares, overlap spruce branches (or roofing , roofing felt), tie tightly with twine.
Is it necessary to re-whitewash trees in spring?
In the second half of February, the amplitude of daily fluctuations in cambium temperature in trees can reach 30-40 degrees. Solar heating of the trunk can provoke the beginning of the growing season of the bark, and the nighttime cold - its dying off. During this period, solar-thermal burns may form. In order to prevent damage to the bark, whitewashing of trunks and branches must be restored in the second half of February. Do this at a temperature not lower than -5 degrees.
4. Can a tree be whitewashed completely? When whitewashing Special attention it is necessary to pay to the places where skeletal branches leave the trunk, where pests usually hibernate and there are foci of fungal diseases. But if possible, I recommend treating the whole tree with lime mortar.
How much whitewashing is needed per tree?
It all depends on the accuracy of the gardener when applying the whitewash and the age of the tree. One adult tree may need 1 kg.
What is the composition ofproteinsbetter?
For autumn whitewashing, as well as for February or March, the solution is prepared as follows: 2-2.2 kg of fresh lime is diluted in 10 liters of water and 0.4-0.5 kg of copper sulfate, previously dissolved in water, is added. For better adhesion, add 1 -2 tbsp to the lime mortar. milk.
FIRST - DISINFECTION
Before whitewashing, as a prophylaxis against diseases, I treat trees in the garden with ash and soap infusion: 2-3 kg of ash and 50 g laundry soap I dilute in 10 liters of hot (not boiling!) water. I dip a rag in this warm infusion and wash the trunk and branches with it. It turns out disinfection and feeding at the same time.
Vladimir BUBNOVICH, Novogrudok
LIKE SOUR CREAM
The husband whitens trees in dry, clear weather with a solution: 2-2.5 kg of slaked lime, 250-300 g of copper sulphate, 1 kg of oily clay, 1-2 shovels of cow dung, first dilutes in a bucket with a small amount of water, and then gradually brings the volume up to 10 liters. Everything mixes well. The whitewash should be the consistency of thick sour cream. If it flows down when applied to the trunk, lime and clay should be gradually added, bringing the solution to the desired density.
Vera Lipai, Minsk region
NEITHER THE RAIN OR THE HARE ARE SCARY
The composition of my whitewash: for 10 liters of water - 2.5 kg of slaked lime, 1 kg of clay and 0.5 kg of copper sulfate. And so that the whitewash is not washed off by the rain, I add stationery or wood glue to its composition (10% of the volume). Throwing in another handful of dried hellebore powder will help scare the hares away.
Alexander NIKONOV, Nizhnekamsk
To protect the garden from hares and mice, I add 1 tablespoon to the whitewash bucket. carbolic acid.
Vasily BARKOVETS, Borisov
Preparing for winter, whitewashing trees, how to whitewash trees, preparing trees for winter, autumn works in the garden
Winter is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about protecting the trees in your garden. One of the most important components of such protection, undoubtedly, is the whitewashing of trees, it helps the tree to grow and form correctly, and also protects it from the effects of external negative factors. Exactly whitewashing trees in spring and autumn will be the topic of our article. And so the first question that arises when whitewashing trees is, of course,
Trees are whitewashed in October - November. To do this, you need to choose a suitable weather, it should not be sunny and dry. Renewing the whitewash at the end of February and beginning of March. Trees are whitewashed for a minimum temperature above zero (+ 4 ... + 6 ° С).
The second question that often arises when whitewashing trees is
until where to whitewash the trees?
Trees are whitened to a height that they can reach at least 1.5-1.7 meters. Since whitewashing is intended to exterminate insects living under the bark of a tree and to protect against sunburn, whitewashing is carried out with an aggressive mixture, therefore it is recommended to prepare the tree for whitewashing before whitewashing. Young trees are not whitened high, before the branches.
How to whiten trees faster?
To do this, you will need several flat brushes, they are tied into one large brush, so you kill two birds with one stone, whiten faster and better, as the absorption of the solution will be better. Do not feel sorry for him (solution). Do not worry if after whitewashing the trees look pale, bright White color will appear only after a couple of hours.
How to whiten trees?
Often most people use acrylic paint
, because it is the most persistent, it is not washed off by rain, therefore it will retain its protective functions until the onset of spring. A cheaper option is clay and lime mortars, but they are not so persistent and you will have to re-bleach the trees at the end of winter, although this solution is better for young trees, since they are able to breathe freely under it. Sometimes a mixture of ingredients such as lime or chalk with PVA, milk, clay is used for whitewashing, and manure or copper sulphate is added to the laundry soap for disinfection.
Solutions for whitewashing trees
1000g of manure, 1000g of lime, 200g of copper sulfate and pour 8 liters of water all this. Stir and let it brew for two to three hours.
1000g of fatty clay, 2000g of slaked lime, 1 shovel of cow dung, 250g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water. Stir and insist for two, three hours
2000 g of slaked lime, 400 g of copper sulfate (dissolve in hot water), 60-110 g of casein glue per 10 liters of water. A very durable substance.
Important aspects in whitewashing trees.
As you know, when you want to achieve good results, in anything, it is important not to miss small parts, we will talk about such details now.
The consistency of the mixture, there should be a golden mean, not very thick, as it will be lumps, but it should not drain from the tree.
The color must be necessarily white, because as soon as it guarantees the reflection of the sun's rays.
There must be glue in the mixture so that the rain does not wash away your whitewash.
Concentration for young trees should be less than for adults.
In case the whitewash is peeling off the bark, you will need to whitewash again.
How to prepare trees for autumn whitewashing
In order for the whitewashing of trees to give the proper result, you must first prepare the tree for it. As we wrote at the beginning of the article, trees are whitewashed in dry weather, but they are prepared during wet weather... Preparation consists in cleaning the bark, you need to scrape off dead bark, lichens and other growths. All this should ideally be done manually. We scrape off all this on cellophane film, which will first need to be laid out under the tree. After that, you need to burn everything that has been scraped, it is better to do this away from your site. The next step in preparing trees for whitewashing is disinfection, they do it in dry weather.
It is best to use an ash and soap solution for disinfection.
: for 1 liter hot water 5 g of laundry soap and 200-300 g of ash. We wet a rag in this solution and dip the trees. The ash will both disinfect and fertilize.
In the fall, tree preparation is very important and how you prepare them for wintering will directly affect your harvests in summer and fall, so be especially careful about this process!
Whitewashing trees in spring and autumn video
One of important work performed in autumn - whitewashing of trees. The timing in which it is better to whitewash the trunks depends on a number of factors. Subject to certain rules, the garden will acquire an exquisite look and will be protected from pests and diseases. The main thing is to choose the right time to carry out these manipulations and prepare a high-quality mixture.
Why you need to whitewash trees
The bark is designed to protect plants from many unfavorable factors, but over time it becomes quite hard and begins to flake and crack. It is extremely important to monitor the condition of the bark in order to maintain the health of garden crops for a long period. It is necessary to whitewash the trees in the garden to create protection against:
Autumn whitewashing should be done with great responsibility. This procedure is necessary not only for fruit, but also for ornamental crops grown in the garden.
Advantages and disadvantages of autumn whitewashing
Taking care of your garden in the fall has a number of advantages:
Among the disadvantages of carrying out such manipulations in autumn period the following are distinguished:
- if the protective mixture is applied too early, the rain will wash it off;
- an increased concentration of lime can cause damage to the bark of seedlings;
- sudden frosts become the reason that the gardener does not have time to complete these works.
Dates of the procedure
You need to whitewash seedlings and adult plants in the garden at least twice a year. This procedure is of particular importance in the preparation for winter. It is necessary to whitewash trees in autumn when the outside air temperature has not yet dropped below zero.
Whitewashing of fruit and decorative crops carried out in the second half of autumn (October or November). Perfect option- dry and sufficiently sunny weather. In the absence of rain, the protective mixture will dry quickly.
How to choose the composition of the whitewash
Whitewashing trees in autumn, the composition of the solution used can be selected taking into account what substances are available. The agent that will be applied to the trunk is prepared independently or purchased ready-made. At the same time, it is allowed to enter the most varied ingredients.
Self-cooking
Gardeners prefer to whiten trees using a lime solution. This is due to the fact that its recipe is quite simple, and financial investments are required the most minimal. The mixture is prepared according to the following scheme:
- Add 3 kilograms of lime (exclusively slaked) to a bucket of water.
- Copper sulfate (half a kilogram) is placed in the solution.
- Finally, lay out no more than one hundred grams of casein glue.
- The product is thoroughly mixed and insisted.
The following lime mix recipes are also used:
- put a kilogram of humus and lime in eight liters of liquid. Immediately add two hundred grams of copper sulfate to the composition. Insist the solution for three hours;
- dilute in minimum quantity liquid four hundred grams of copper sulfate and mix the resulting mass with a couple of kilograms of lime and one hundred grams of casein glue. Dilute the resulting mixture in a bucket of liquid;
- put a kilogram of clay and the same amount of manure in a bucket of liquid, add a couple of kilograms of slaked lime and 250 grams of copper sulfate. Insist the mixture for at least two hours.
Ready mixes
The store-bought tree whitewash mix contains clay and lime. The main disadvantage of such funds is that they will last no more than two months on the trunks. In rainy weather, the product is washed off immediately. Therefore, the processing is carried out at least twice.
Gardening is also used. water-based paint... Among its main characteristics are durability and safety for all horticultural crops. They form an air-permeable coating that is resistant to moisture and sunlight.
Garden can be used water dispersion paint, containing in its composition, in addition to the pigment, latex, an antiseptic and a number of modifying additives. The product is characterized by water permeability, but scorching, causing great harm to ultraviolet rays, thanks to this coating, cannot penetrate to the bark. The paint can stay on the trunks for a couple of years.
How to whitewash a tree correctly
Preliminary preparation
Plants need to be prepared for basic manipulations. In wet weather, the trunks and lower parts of the skeletal branches should be cleaned first. From them it is necessary to remove moss, exfoliated areas of the bark and all detected lichens. Work is done with gloves. It is unacceptable to use metal or plastic brushes, washcloths and scrapers that can damage healthy bark. Exceptionally sharp pegs or a knife made of wood are used. Everything that will be removed must be burned.
On the next preparatory stage carry out disinfection. To perform these manipulations, dry weather is selected when no rains are expected. In this case, a weak solution of copper sulfate is used. For its preparation, about 500 grams of the product is diluted in ten liters of water. Spray plants at close range using a fine spray. It is extremely important that the liquid does not spread along the trunk, eventually falling on the ground, but envelops it in fog and immediately settles.
It is not recommended to treat plants with this agent annually. Copper will begin to accumulate in the bark, and its excessive concentration has a toxic effect on horticultural crops. They will weaken and become more susceptible to disease. Therefore, the use of such a solution should be alternated with the use of soap-ash, which is prepared by diluting a couple of kilograms of ash and 50 grams of laundry soap in ten liters of hot water. The resulting mixture is infused, filtered and diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio.
When the disinfection process is over, they begin to close up the wounds. For this purpose, it is allowed to use the following compositions:
- clay talker... 200 grams of clay is mixed with mullein, finely chopped straw, taken in a small amount and 100 grams of mullein. The mixture is diluted with water. The consistency should be similar to sour cream;
- garden var. It can be purchased and prepared at home. For this, 200 grams of bees wax and 100 grams of rosin are melted in separate containers on the stove. In liquid form, these components are mixed and added to the composition of 100 grams of fat. After its melting, the mass is placed in a cold liquid, after a short time it is removed and rolled into one lump. The product is warmed up before use. Thanks to this, it acquires elasticity;
- garden paste Runnet. It contains substances useful for horticultural crops, namely copper sulfate and humate. Work with its use is performed dry, enough sunny weather... The product is not resistant to moisture.
Procedure technology
All actions must be performed carefully, slowly, painting over each area so that it is fully saturated with a protective solution. They begin whitewashing from below and gradually rise along the trunk to tops.
It is imperative that no large droplets remain during the application of the mixture. Initially, it will seem that the trunk is completely processed, but after drying, they will begin to fall off.
Not only the trunk should be whitewashed, but also skeletal branches (about thirty centimeters in height). It is necessary that the solution does not turn out to be excessively thick. If the layer is thick, it will soon begin to crumble. All actions will have to be repeated.
In the autumn, a gardener needs to carry out a whole range of works on his site, among which whitewashing of garden crops is of no small importance. With strict adherence to the terms and rules for performing such manipulations, the plants will be protected from negative external influences and pest attacks. Thanks to this, in the next season, the yield will be as high as possible. In addition, the garden will acquire an exquisite, well-groomed appearance.
With the arrival of warmth, gardeners have a lot of worries. Those who are seriously concerned about the state of their site, consider it not only as a place to relax, but also as a source of regular replenishment of their "grocery basket" with environmentally friendly gifts of nature, knows the amount of work to be done, and how much effort you have to spend. One of the stages of preparing a garden - spring whitewash trees.
Before you figure out how and how to handle the trunks, you should answer a few questions.
By the way, there are different opinions about the expediency of this event (and it takes quite a long time). Opponents consider this to be just a tribute to tradition, and in fact, a waste of time. But those who understand the meaning of this work, carry it out without fail. Why?
Whitewashing - reliable protection bark from sun rays and insects. For plants, it is practically the same as for humans - skin. If the bark is damaged, then this directly affects (negatively) not only the yield, but also further development tree and its longevity. This requires additional "decryption".
Firstly, all insects hide, including in the bark of trees. Some of them not only hibernate there, but also lay larvae. Therefore, when they wake up after hibernation and the conditions (first of all, the air temperature) are favorable, they will begin to develop and spread throughout the entire site, moving on to branches and leaves. In addition, some insects wait out the cold in the ground. When they wake up, they will also be drawn to the trees.
Therefore, they should be destroyed in advance, "block the path", otherwise then pest control will become an integral part of the work at each visit to the site. Moreover, its effectiveness will still be questionable. Indeed, many gardeners complain that no matter how much they spray the trees, this has absolutely no effect on many insects. Therefore, one should not "mix in a heap", since whitewashing can be different - preventive, cosmetic or therapeutic. The choice of compositions and the method of processing the trunk depends on what goal the gardener pursues.
In the spring, the main task is solved - the destruction of pests, preventing them from falling on the trunks from the ground.
Secondly, like skin covering, the bark is prone to burns. Often there is still snow in some places, and the sun is already “beating down” quite effectively. Trees must be protected from the rays of the heavenly body. The analogy is probably very primitive, but this is tantamount to the fact that a person who is still half asleep is doused cold water... Stress, and quite serious. So for a tree that is still awakening - burning sunbeams. And white is known to be able to reflect them.
Conclusion - whatever the skeptics say, whitewashing must be done every spring.
When to study?
It is not difficult to determine if you understand the meaning of this event, and this has already been described in detail.
First, dry weather should be established. Whiten when sunny days alternating with rainy ones - a waste of time and effort. The whitewash composition will surely wash away.
Secondly, the temperature should be slightly more than 0 ºС, and the sun has not yet heated up intensively. That is, when the earth warms up a little, but it has not yet come to budding.
Conclusion - for most of the country's territory, this time falls on the 2nd half of March - the first decades of April. It is only necessary to "seize the moment" in accordance with the peculiarities of the climate in the region.
How to handle a tree trunk
How to whiten
On sale you can find various means from which the solution is prepared within a few minutes. Their choice is at the discretion of the owners. But still, first of all, you should use traditional, time-tested formulations, which are easy to prepare yourself.
* All weights are in grams per bucket of water.
Recipe number 1
Lime - 2,500, joiner's glue - 200, copper sulfate - 500 (ml).
Recipe number 2
Manure + lime - 1,000 each, copper sulfate - 200. After mixing, the solution is allowed to settle for at least 2 hours.
Recipe number 3
Slaked lime - 2000, clay (oily) - 1000, copper sulfate - 250, manure - 1 shovel. The same is to let it settle.
Recipe number 4
Lime - 2,000, casein glue - 100, copper sulfate - 400. For good mixing, the water must be hot.
A few notes
- Sometimes you can hear such a "recommendation" (the author deliberately put this word in quotation marks) - so that the trees look spectacular and the whitewash is not washed off, it is better to use paint and varnish rather than lime (or other) compounds. Yes, the view will be really attractive. But the trunk must breathe, and staining it is a guarantee that the tree will eventually be destroyed. The only question is time. By the way, this fully applies to thick clay solutions, which are also often mentioned in some sources.
- "Youngsters" should not be whitewashed. The bark of such trees is still soft and smooth. The solution will fill all the pores, literally sealing the barrel, and it will stop "breathing". This will negatively affect the further development of the tree. In extreme cases, you can restrict yourself to light, "cosmetic" treatment of the trunk with a weakly concentrated lime solution.
- When purchasing whitewash compositions at points of sale, it should be understood that many of them, no matter how advertised, can be classified as "experimental", since various new products have not yet passed the test of time and their merits have not been confirmed by practice. From the point of view of the author, it is not worth "setting up experiments" on your site, but using reliable lime solutions, proven for centuries, for whitewashing. If desired, it is easy to add any components to them that improve their properties.
- Many inexperienced gardeners are confused by the fading of a freshly whitewashed trunk, and they start processing it in a “second round”. There is no need to rush. The applied solution will turn white only after complete drying, which, as a rule, takes at least 30 - 45 minutes.
- The presence of adhesive components in the composition for the preparation of whitewash prevents its rapid washing off from the trunk. It is advisable to cook according to such recipes if forecasters predict changeable weather, with rains.
- How older tree, the more concentrated the solution is prepared.
And the last thing. All waste that appears in the process of preparing trees for whitewashing must be burned immediately. Otherwise, the insects in this dust will quickly "scatter" around the site.