It was in the month of April, several decades ago, that subbotniks were held, during which the trees were whitewashed. The green crowns of trees and their whitewashed trunks were considered a sign that spring had finally arrived. However, there are experts who are confident that if a tree is incorrectly whitened in the spring, it may well harm it.
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Why whitewash trees in spring
The spring whitewashing of trees growing in the garden protects them from some adverse environmental influences. So, for example, from bright spring sun rays, from low temperatures and from harmful insects living in the soil. In this regard, experts advise whitewashing trees a couple of times a year.
Whitewashed apple and cherry trees tolerate wintering relatively easily. Whitewashing is carried out in the fall, after there are no leaves on the trees. However, it is imperative to be in time before the frost. This will provide protection to plants in spring from harmful insects and the scorching rays of the sun.
How to whitewash old trees
You should pay special attention to the whitewashing of old trees. Whitewashing on them lays down relatively poorly, because on the old bark there are many irregularities, cracks. In this regard, before whitening a tree, you need to clean its trunk, for this you need brushes and scrapers. However, it is often recommended to carry out this procedure with simple rag gloves, since they are not capable of severely damaging the tree trunk, unlike brushes and scrapers. If you decide to carry out cleaning with a scraper, then you should remember that this must be done with extreme caution, since wood can be easily injured.
There are many types of whitewashing, but not all of them are capable of providing protection against microorganisms and harmful insects. In this regard, before whitening the barrel, it is necessary to process it with special means. This solution is applied to the surface of the branches and the trunk very carefully so that the liquid does not flow down. Frequent use of these solutions can harm the bark.
How to prepare a solution for whitewashing trees
In order to treat the trunk, it is recommended to use wood ash. For this, a solution is prepared: 3 kg of ash are taken for 1 bucket of water, and soap should also be added.Processing the resulting solution should be carried out on a cloudless day.
In the event that there are cracks on the wood, then they are treated with a special agent that accelerates the healing process. Experienced gardeners recommend making such a putty with your own hands. To do this, mix straw, mullein and clay. However, this solution does not have high strength and after a relatively short time it will crumble. But for some time it can hold out and provide protection from harmful insects.
What can be used for whitewashing
The best option is a spray gun. You will whitewash the wood with it very quickly and at the same time save mortar. And also with it, you can quickly fill in all the cracks on the trunk. However, gardeners often use a simple whitewash brush.
The entire trunk should be whitewashed from the very root to the branches located at the very bottom. Many people think that it is enough to whitewash the trunk only to a height of 100 centimeters, but this is wrong. And that's all, because harmful insects and frosts can get even higher. In this regard, sometimes it is necessary to whitewash not only the trunk, but also some branches.
There are many types of whitewash that have different purposes. So, in springtime, it is not recommended to use only lime for whitewashing, because after the first rain that has passed, it will wash off. It is recommended to mix it with droppings, PVA glue and add copper sulfate. This whitewash will last longer and will not be afraid of rain.
The composition of the whitewash directly depends on the type of wood. So, if you paint an old tree, then no permitted additives can harm it. However, for young specimens, it is recommended to use a solution with a small amount of components.
The best choice is a whitewash product purchased from a specialty store, which contains substances that help strengthen the defenses of the plant. It can be purchased both diluted and completely ready to work, and dry. These solutions last for a very long time, provide protection against harmful insects and look great on the plant. They are environmentally friendly.
Whitewashing trees with lime with copper sulfate and PVA glue
In order to prepare a whitewashing solution, you will need:
- PVA glue or wallpaper ―60 g;
- lime - 2 kg;
- copper sulfate ―0.4 kg;
- clay - 1 kg;
- manure - 1 kg.
This solution perfectly protects the plant, fits well and stays on the trunk for a long time. He is not afraid of rains. It is an excellent choice for whitewashing old trees growing in a summer cottage.
Cooking method: the required amount of glue is added to half a bucket of water, and the solution is thoroughly mixed. Then it is necessary to gradually pour slaked lime into it, as well as copper sulfate dissolved in water, which should be hot, while the solution must be continuously mixed. After that, you need to gradually add yellow clay, as well as manure. As a result, the solution should have the consistency of sour cream.
For whitewashing, use a brush or a wide enough brush. It needs to be guided along the trunk from top to bottom.
