Garden var - what is this remedy?

Early frosts in autumn, hot spring sun, cold winter frosts, all these weather twists and turns do not have the best effect on damaged trees. Moreover, breaks in the bark or cracks could occur both for natural reasons and with careless handling of a mechanical auxiliary garden tool or during sanitary pruning of the garden. In any case, no matter how the injury was inflicted, it must be treated and covered up. And the garden pitch is best suited for these purposes.

Content:

• Garden var: meaning and types
• What and how to prepare a garden pitch?
• What can replace the garden pitch?
• When and what is var used for?
• Terms of use

Garden var: meaning and types

Garden var is a soft and thick substance obtained as a result of processing wood resin with auxiliary components. That is, it is a natural remedy that helps woody tissues to recover.

Since the trunk of a tree consists of several layers, the bark plays a protective role, but the bast and cambium, located in the depths, are responsible for the correct distribution of nutrients. And when the whole shell of the tree is broken, then the nutritional chains are broken, and fertile soil is formed for the growth of bacteria and various kinds of diseases. Of course, if the damage is small, then the plant will recover on its own. But for deeper cuts, it is worth using additional protective equipment.

Store shelves abound with offers in the garden variety assortment.

But if you take a closer look at the composition, then in most cases the gardener can see that the basis of the product is either latacryl glue or petrolatum, to which not only a tree, but a person may have an allergic reaction.

That is, the following situation turns out, there are many varieties of var and there are various names, but finding a var that corresponds to GOST and is made from natural materials is problematic. Therefore, the garden var can be prepared either with your own hands, or you can find a replacement for it. In this case, you can be absolutely sure that the health of the garden will not be harmed.

What and how to prepare a garden pitch?

There are many recipes for making a classic var. But the very first thing to take care of is the dishes. Firstly, all ingredients are heat-treated in the form of melting, and secondly, it must be stored well-packed.

Cookware for var:

1. thick-bottomed saucepan
2. water bath
3. storage capacity. It should be either a glass jar or an iron ladle. Because, if necessary, the var will need to be warmed up
4. respiratory and hand protection

Russian scientist Pashkevich proposed the following recipe:

• natural beeswax (best buy in an apiary) - 550 gr.
• turpentine - 550 gr.
• rosin - 300 gr.
• any animal rendered fat - 100 gr.

Melt all the ingredients in order, until smooth. Pour the mass in a thin stream into a container placed in cold water. After the garden pitch has become a single mass, it can be rolled into balls and stored in plastic bags.

The following recipe is quite simple to prepare, adheres well to the trunk, does not melt or crumble in the cold:

• resin - 500 gr.
• medical alcohol - 80 ml.
• natural flaxseed oil - 1 1/2 tablespoons Any other can be used.

Melt the ingredients one by one in the other. The mass hardens quickly when it comes into contact with air. So it is convenient to keep this var in a container, subject to contact with the hot surfaces of the stove.

It is not difficult to prepare a garden pitch on your own, but the gardener will always be sure that the trees are treated with an absolutely safe and reliable remedy.

The third option is perfect for working at low temperatures .:

• rosin - 300 gr.
• beeswax - 300 gr.
• natural melted fat - 300 gr.

Also melt and mix everything. It is necessary to store this version of the garden varnish in oiled paper; a pastry shop is best suited for baking. But it is best to wrap the treated places in the trees with rags. Otherwise, the bees will be happy with such a treat.

What can replace the garden pitch?

But if there is no freshly prepared garden brew or suitable ingredients at hand, then you can cope without it from the materials at hand.

The simplest recommendation, if you need emergency help for green pets, is to prepare the product according to the following recipe:

• rotted cow dung - 10 parts
• slaked lime - 5 parts
• fine sand - 1 part

All components should be thoroughly mixed and treated with wood. But such a remedy is not resistant to moisture, so this is a temporary help.

Also, garden pitch can be replaced by the following means:

1. Cedar or pine resin, sold under the Zhivitsa trademark. Pine resin is cheaper. For use, it must be melted and mixed with wax and vegetable oil. By the way, you can collect resin with your own hands in the forest from coniferous trees.
2. Medical turpentine. It is sold in pharmacies, and this type of turpentine is extracted from wood resin. It is necessary to work carefully, the vapors are poisonous.
3. Gum rosin. Only this is suitable for working with living organisms.
4. Natural beeswax. It is important that it is fresh.

If there are at least two of the above ingredients in the house, then you can safely mix them, sprinkle them a little with vegetable oil and a homemade recipe for a garden brew is ready!

When and for what purpose is var used?

Garden pitch or its analogs in the gardener's household is absolutely irreplaceable. Because any correction of trees opens access to moisture, bacteria, and abrasive dust particles inside the trunk. All this sometimes causes irreparable harm to fruit trees. Hence, immunity weakens, diseases develop, and the plant reduces its productivity. And if the damage to the bark was extensive, then the tree may even die. So it should be remembered that any manipulation with a pruner or garden shears must end with the use of a var.

It is especially important to apply var in early spring.

Cracks open on the bark, pieces of old bark can fall off, a thick layer of snow can break off branches over the winter and the spring sun in places of breakthrough will burn the inner layers. Therefore, when establishing good weather, it is worth carefully examining your pets and treating weak points with garden varnish.

It is also necessary to send the garden to wintering wisely. After all, not only sanitization is important, but also a reliable shelter. You need to choose the most suitable recipe and carefully cover all open areas. If a treated place or saw cut is opened in winter, the procedure must be repeated. Among the recipes there is one that can be used in the cold season.

Terms of use

If a gardener uses a garden varnish purchased from a store, then the precautions and rules of use indicated on the label should be observed.

If a gardener makes a var on his own, then first of all, both when preparing it, and when heating it, and when applied to trees, it is necessary:

• Protect eyes, respiratory system and exposed areas of the body. Despite the fact that only organic materials are used in home brewing, for example, turpentine releases toxic substances. Or you can simply get burned. Therefore, gloves and a mask should be in the gardener's arsenal.
• Var when applied to trees must be cooled down. You cannot use a hot pitch, because the thin skin of the trees will not withstand and you will get a thermal burn.
• Before applying the garden pitch, it is worth mechanically to thoroughly clean the affected area, even if the area is large and deep, if possible, treated with biofungicides, dry thoroughly and only then apply the var.
• Var is applied to an open area with a layer of 1, 5-2 cm, and maybe more, depending on the situation. Whenever possible, when applying a thick layer, allow time for each layer to dry. Then the effect will be more expressive, and the var will fully fulfill its protective functions. And also if the processing area is extensive, then a piece of burlap or other material should be fixed on top. But by no means a vapor barrier fabric or polyethylene. Don't create a greenhouse effect.

From the above, it should be concluded that buying a drug in a store is possible only after a full acquaintance with the composition. And only if it is organic, and in the opposite case, you can simply cover it up with glue, because the effect will be like this. Making a var yourself is very simple, so it's worth spending a couple of hours and making a useful drug with your own hands.

More information can be found in the video: