How to treat apple trees with iron sulphate in spring and autumn

Iron vitriol for an apple tree in the spring is used for preventive purposes. Treatments begin at the end of March, before the buds swell. A fairly concentrated solution of 2-3% is usually used. The basic rules for use, dosage and processing time are described in the article.

Is it possible and why to spray apple trees with iron sulphate

Iron vitriol is a powder with small crystals of a greenish-blue (turquoise) color. Chemically it is ferrous sulfate FeSO₄ – inorganic salt, soluble in water. Destroys bacteria, fungi, pests, therefore it is both a fungicide and an insecticide.

The drug is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases, as well as the destruction of apple pests:

• gray rot;
• scab;
• powdery mildew;
• coccomycosis;
• different types of spotting;
• lichens, mosses;
• crawling insects.

Advantages and disadvantages

Iron sulfate has quite a few benefits.

The drug is affordable and quite effective for the prevention and treatment

Pros:

• has a wide spectrum of action;
• economical consumption;
• it is enough to carry out only 2 treatments per season;
• easily soluble in water;
• can be used as a fertilizer (replenishes iron deficiency in the soil);
• non-toxic to humans and bees.

Cons:

• rapidly oxidizes in air;
• the period of protective action is not more than 2 weeks;
• it absorbs moisture well, so you need to store it in a well-corked container;
• may cause leaf scorch if solution concentration exceeds 1%;
• there are restrictions on compatibility with other drugs.

When to treat apple trees with iron sulphate

Spraying is usually carried out twice – at the beginning and at the end of the season. It is necessary to spray apple trees with iron vitriol in the spring even before the start of sap flow and swelling of the kidneys. At the same time, it is desirable that the temperature on the day of treatment be positive and be at least 4-5 degrees. In the middle lane, this period falls at the end of March, in the south – at the beginning of the month. In the Urals, in Siberia, in the northern regions – at the beginning of April.

During early spring spraying, special attention is paid to the bark of the tree. It is there that pest larvae settle for the winter, after which in the summer they become more active and begin to feed on young foliage. If there is any damage, broken branches, they must first be removed and a healthy place cleaned, smearing the wound with garden pitch.

In summer, foliar treatments with the drug are practically not carried out, since the foliage can get a chemical burn, which will cause the tree to get sick and reduce productivity. But if signs of an acute iron deficiency in the soil are found, it is allowed to water the near-stem circle once with a weak solution of a concentration of 0,05%.

It is possible to spray apple trees with iron vitriol in autumn after the end of leaf fall. This is also a preventive treatment that allows you to protect the tree from infections and pests that become more active in the spring.

What solution of ferrous sulfate is needed for an apple tree

The dosage of iron sulfate solution for apple trees depends on the purpose of processing in spring or autumn:

1. During spring spraying, for prevention purposes, a concentration of 1% is used, i.e. in 1 liter dissolve 10 g of powder or 100 g in 10 liters (standard bucket of water). This is quite enough to prevent the development of fungal infections and the appearance of pests.
2. In summer and early autumn, apple trees can be fertilized with a solution of ferrous sulfate concentration of 0,5% (50 g per 10 l). It is used as a root treatment when there are clear signs of iron deficiency associated with leaf chlorosis.
3. To cope with such dangerous diseases as powdery mildew, various types of spotting, and also to destroy pests, a solution of ferrous sulfate with a maximum concentration of 5% is used. To obtain it, dissolve 500 g of powder in 10 liters of water.
4. In autumn, spraying of apple trees is done with a 3% solution of ferrous sulfate, i.e. 300 g per 10 liters. This is a preventive treatment, thanks to which it is possible to destroy pests that have moved to wintering under the bark.
5. For the treatment of the walls of the greenhouse, cellars and other premises for cultivation and storage, it is recommended to use the most concentrated liquid – 10%, i.e. 1 kg per 10 liters.

The concentration of the solution depends on the purpose of its use.

How to breed iron sulfate for processing apple trees

For cooking, proceed as follows:

1. Take a clean container, rinse so that there are no traces of other reagents.
2. They put on gloves.
3. Measure the desired mass of iron sulfate powder on the scales.
4. Dissolve in a small volume of water, mixing thoroughly.
5. Bring to a total volume (10 l).
6. Pour into a sprayer and start processing.

How to process apple trees with iron sulphate

Processing is usually carried out foliar, i.e. by spraying from a spray bottle. Features of the procedure depend on which pest they are fighting. The most common cases are described below.

Fungal diseases

Iron sulfate helps to cope with powdery mildew and other fungal diseases of the apple tree. For these purposes, a sufficiently concentrated liquid of 3% is used. To prepare it, dissolve 300 g of powder in one bucket of water. For prevention, it is enough to do two treatments – in spring and autumn. If the trees are infected, plan 2-3 sprays with an interval of one week.

Mosses and lichens

Lichens and mosses cause great harm to apple trees. They settle on the bark and prevent the tree from developing normally. To destroy pests, spraying with a concentrated solution of 3-5% should be carried out, i.e. dissolve in 10 l from 300 to 500 g of powder. They carefully process all the affected branches.

Processing helps to get rid of mosses and lichens on the apple tree

From pests

To combat insects, including their larvae, a liquid with a concentration of 5% is used, i.e. dissolve 500 g in 10 l. Spraying with vitriol is planned twice – in early spring (before sap flow) and in late autumn (after leaf fall). In summer, such a solution cannot be used – it will burn the leaves.

From chlorosis

Chlorosis associated with iron deficiency is treated by root treatment with a weakly concentrated solution of 0,5%, i.e. 50 g per bucket of water. They are watered near the trunk circle. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times with an interval of 5 days, until the leaves again acquire a normal green color.

Top dressing of apple trees with iron sulphate

On infertile soils, iron deficiency can be detected, as can be seen from a number of external signs:

• a yellow color appears between the veins of the leaves;
• tissues gradually die off, the surface of the plates darkens;
• trees are lagging behind.

To prevent this phenomenon, it is recommended to water the near-stem circle with a solution of 0,5%. Moreover, it is better to give water at a distance from the central trunk (along the outer contour of the crown), since it is in this place that the roots are located that can quickly absorb moisture with nutrients.

Safety measures

Iron vitriol is not very dangerous for humans and bees. However, during the processing of apple trees, basic safety measures must be observed:

1. Wear gloves and protective clothing.
2. Avoid eating, drinking, smoking.
3. Keep children out of the area.
4. If the solution gets on hands or other parts of the body, wash with soap and water.
5. In case of splashing in eyes, rinse under a gentle stream.
6. If swallowed, take 10 activated charcoal tablets. If symptoms of poisoning occur, seek medical attention.

Compatibility with other drugs

Iron vitriol can not be used with all means. Exclude combinations with such drugs:

• organophosphate pesticides;
• karbofos;

  

• substances that dissolve in an alkaline environment.

With some means, vitriol precipitates. Therefore, before compiling a mixture, it is necessary to conduct a test – mix the different components together and make sure that there is no chemical reaction.

Conclusion

Iron vitriol for an apple tree in the spring is used as a prophylactic. Autumn processing is done with similar goals. In summer, it is allowed to water the soil with a weakly concentrated solution to make up for iron deficiency.