Whitewashing Of Fruit Trees

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

One of the important events in the garden in the spring, and for many in the fall, is the whitewashing of trees with a solution of lime. How to prepare it and whitewash tree trunks correctly?

The bark of trees plays a protective role, like human skin, which protects the internal organs from adverse external influences - changes in temperatures, whipping wind, sun, frost, pests, etc. The bark is the protection of a tree from sunburn and frostbite, so it becomes time coarse, cracked, sick and exfoliate. As a result, an infection and pests can penetrate into the tree, due to which the plant withers and dies prematurely.

It is a mistake to consider whitewashing tree trunks as a decorative measure. Covering a tree trunk with a lime mortar is a good way to protect it, above all:

* From sunburn, which can be both in winter and early spring, when the foliage of the tree cannot protect the branches from the sun.

* From temperature extremes, from cracking of the bark.

* From pests that multiply in the bark of trees.

Adults and young trees need whitewashing. But lime solutions will be slightly different. If you use a concentrated lime solution for whitewashing, you can damage the bark of young trees. Therefore, it is advisable for them to prepare a weak lime solution, special water-based or acrylic paints, and a silver biomask.

1. Timing and correct whitewashing

According to the recommendations of experienced gardeners, fruit trees are best whitewashed two or three times a year:

* Autumn (October-November).

* In the spring - the second whitewash (February-March).

* Summer (July).

It is most effective to whitewash in mid-autumn. Trees need special protection on sunny February and frosty March days. During the February day, the trunks of trees are heated under the sun to +11 oС, the movement of sap in the trunks begins. At night, the temperature drops to -10 oС, freezing the juice that appears. On tree trunks, the bark is covered with elongated cracks.

White-painted trunks do not heat up to a high temperature, since the sun's rays are repelled by the white color. Even on spring days, whitewashed trees wake up later, and this protects them from the effects of spring frost.

Not always and not everyone succeeds in whitening trees in the fall. In this case, whitewashing is best done in February. If the spring whitewashing is done after the autumn one, it can be done between March and April.

The third whitewash does not make sense if persistent compounds were used for this - they will last perfectly for a long time. And when the whitewash is washed off by the rains, it is advisable to update it in the summer.

2. How should trees be whitewashed?

Whitewashing is usually done from the root collar to the first lower branch of the trunk. It is advisable to whitewash the lower skeletal branches by a third of the length. Before whitewashing, it is recommended to use plastic wrap to cover the trunks. Old dead bark and growths, moss and lichen should be carefully cleaned from trunks and branches with a construction trowel and wire brush. When wounds appear, they need to be covered up as soon as possible, using a garden pitch for this.

After completing the cleaning procedures, whitewash with a paint brush. Whitewash is applied in two layers. If there are a lot of trees, you can use a spray gun.

3. Whitewashing should be done before pests appear

Sometimes it is necessary to perform several whitewashing during the winter thaws, because due to the sun's rays and rains, the solution does not stay on the tree trunks for long. Gardeners have to time the spring whitewashing correctly: this must be done before the ground gets very hot and leaves appear on the trees.

If pests hibernated in the bark of trees, it is necessary to have time to whitewash the trees before they awaken. It is recommended to add a small amount of copper sulfate to the whitewash, which acts as a disinfectant.

4. Some more useful tips

* Young trees can be whitewashed only when they have entered the fruiting phase. Until that time, they hide in frost with a cloth.

* Before whitewashing, it is necessary to cover up the damage in the bark. For this, a garden pitch is used.

* Garden var can be prepared at home by melting 200 g of wax and rosin and mixing them with 100 g of vegetable oil. The mixture must be cooled by immersing it in cold water.