Whitewashing of trees - protection and care

Many argue about why it is necessary to whitewash trees, and when to conduct it. Some argue that the main work should be done in the autumn, others prefer spring work. And about the month of processing, there is also no consensus.

When and why

The main whitewash of trees is made in the autumn. Its goal is to protect the bark from insects that have decided to overwinter in it, and also to use it as food. These works will save plantations from pests from forests or fields that come in the cold season for food.

Whitewashing of trees saves from icing in great frosts. These works begin at the time of snow melting. Experts argue that the whitewashing of fruit trees in the spring is necessary as an additional protection against pests that have not yet woken up and did not have time to harm. Protecting plantations is also necessary from the sun. In the spring it shines very much and can cause burns on the bark, which will lead to further diseases of the trees.

Preparation for work

In autumn, we clean the base of the trunk and the main branches, as well as the stems from the old bark, moss, lichen. This is done by a hoe, scoop or knife. With great care, we carry out this process. It is important not to harm live tissues when removing the old bark. All the cleaned places must be treated with a garden bar.

rules

The cleaning process and the time of the work are described above. Whitewash exposed trees that are more than three years old. Weather conditions play an important role, it must be dry and warm. In the daytime the temperature should be above zero. The whitewashing of the trees is done with hydrated lime or special garden paint, which can be bought in the store. It should be indicated that the surface to be treated can "breathe". The composition of the product must include antiseptics and glue.

What to whitewash

For such works, use a large or small brush, depending on the size of the barrel. At large volumes, a spray gun is used, but such a tool increases the consumption of the mixture.

Harm from whitewash

If lime is used in the work, one must know its shortcomings. There are several of them. This solution dries the bark of trees. The added glue does not allow breathing the plantations, it completely clogs the pores on them. Together with harmful larvae and insects, defenders and garden assistants are killed.

Cooking and using the mixture

The whitewash for the garden trees is prepared according to the following recipe: hydrated lime - 2 kg, copper vitriol - 450 g, fatty clay - 1 kg, water - 10 l. Everything is thoroughly mixed. The applied layer should be 3 mm thick. Some gardeners to this solution add a couple of shovels of cow dung to the bucket of the finished mixture. The places of branching are laid with lobsters or sackcloth soaked in whitewash. From forest pests use another recipe: water-based paint - 2 kg (latex whitewash), carbofos - 30 g (slightly more than a tablespoon). When working with this drug, take precautions. It refers to poisons. Such trees hares and mice are not touched. The treatment is carried out and the Bordeaux mixture. For its preparation in separate containers are bred in hot water: slaked lime - 1.5 kg per 5 liters of water, copper vitriol - 250 grams per 5 liters. Gently combine both compounds and mix thoroughly. In the absence of lime, it is replaced with ground chalk in combination with joinery glue (100 grams per liter), clay or cow manure.