Many argue about why whitewashing trees is needed, and when to do it. Some argue that the main work should be done in the fall, others prefer spring work. And there is also no consensus about the month of processing.
When and why
The main whitewashing of trees is done in autumn. Its purpose is to protect the bark from insects that have decided to overwinter in it, and also to use it as food. These works will also save plantings from pests from the forest or fields that come in the cold season for food.
Whitewashing trees saves from icing in severe frosts. These works begin during the snowmelt. Experts say that whitewashing fruit trees in the spring is necessary as additional protection against pests that have not yet woken up and have not had time to harm. It is also necessary to protect the plantings from the sun. In the spring, it shines very strongly and can cause burns on the bark, which will lead to further diseases of the trees.
Preparation for work
In the 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 with a chopper, scoop or knife. We carry out this process with great care. Importantdo not harm living tissues when removing the old bark. All cleaned places must be finally treated with garden pitch.
Rules
The cleaning process and work time are described above. Trees that are more than three years old are exposed to whitewashing. Weather conditions play an important role, it should be dry and warm. During the day the temperature should be above zero. Whitewashing trees is done with slaked lime or special garden paint, which can be bought at the store. It should indicate that the treated surface will be able to "breathe". The composition of the product must necessarily include antiseptics and glue.
What to whiten
For such work, a large or small brush is used, depending on the size of the trunk. For large volumes, a spray gun is used, but such a tool increases the consumption of the mixture.
Harm from whitewashing
If lime is used in the work, you need to know its shortcomings. And there are several of them. Such a solution dries out the bark of trees. The added glue does not allow the plantations to breathe, it completely clogs the pores on them. Together with harmful larvae and insects, both the defenders and the helpers of the garden are exterminated.
Preparing and using the mixture
Whitewash for garden trees is prepared according to the following recipe: slaked lime - 2 kg, blue vitriol - 450 g, oily clay - 1 kg, water - 10 l. Everything is thoroughly mixed. The applied layer should be 3 mm thick. Some gardeners add to this solutiona couple of shovels of cow manure on a bucket of ready mix. Branching points are laid with lumps of tow or burlap soaked in whitewash. From forest pests, a different recipe is used: water-based paint - 2 kg (latex whitewash), karbofos - 30 g (a little more than a tablespoon). When working with this drug, observe precautions. It refers to poisons. Hares and mice will not touch such trees. Processing is carried out with Bordeaux mixture. For its preparation, it is diluted in separate containers in hot water: slaked lime - 1.5 kg per 5 liters of water, copper sulfate - 250 g per 5 liters. Gently combine both compositions and mix thoroughly. In the absence of lime, it is replaced with crushed chalk in combination with wood glue (100 g per l), clay or cow dung.
