When to whitewash trees, what and why
White tree trunks are associated with the May holidays. These days, it is customary to put things in order both in the city and in the garden plots. City trees from whitewash seem healthier and stronger, and garden and park areas look cleaner and more elegant.
But beauty alone is not enough for fruit and berry crops in summer cottages. It is important for them to be protected from insects and the effects of harmful external factors in order to give a high yield. A true gardener must know when to whitewash trees.
This is done at least in the spring. But twice a year is better:
- Early in the spring, as soon as the snow had melted enough and the weather was dry. It is important to catch the moment when the sleeping insects have not yet woken up and have not gone on the offensive on the trees. At the same time, the rains should not interfere with this work, otherwise everything will be washed off before it can dry out.
- Late in the fall. The time is selected when the showers are already behind, and the air temperature is close to 3 degrees (October or November).
Spring bleaching protects the tree from the penetration of insects, prevents the development of those pests that nevertheless climbed under the bark. Autumn will protect against hard ultraviolet radiation at the end of winter and early spring, from sudden changes in temperature, even from frost.
The tree must be prepared for whitewashing:
- Peel off dead bark
- Remove mosses and lichens
- Remove everything that was removed from the tree and burn.
How to whiten trees?
Having figured out when to whitewash the trees, and having prepared them for this, you need to prepare a whitewashing solution.
- You can just take slaked lime, but you will have to apply it in two layers, moreover, it does not last so long.
- You can buy a ready-made solution, which contains both glue for secure fixation on the bark, and antiparasitic agents.
- You can make the solution yourself by mixing about 3 kg of slaked lime, 100 g of casein glue and 400 g of copper sulfate. Dilute all this with 10 liters of water.
- You can take clay as a basis by mixing it with a pest drug and lime.
It used to be thought that trees should be whitened to protect the bark from rodents and the sun. Now they whitewash in order to decorate the site. Smooth whitewashed trees look good against a background of green grass. One thing is worth noting, I would never advise to whitewash with lime, even with slaked lime. It eats away at the bark, especially of young trees.