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Whitewashing the trunks of fruit trees in autumn is the final stage of the pre-winter preparation of the orchard. This procedure is extremely important both from an aesthetic point of view and for the health of plants in general. After all, it allows you to better prepare the trees for winter conditions, as well as destroy a significant part of the harmfulness of insects and their larvae, which use bark folds as shelter for the winter.
The importance of autumn whitewashing fruit trees
Whitewashing fruit trees in the fall performs several functions:
- decorative;
- protective;
- sanitary.
Whitewashed trees look much more aesthetically pleasing, and a beautiful well-groomed garden can become a kind of hallmark of its owner.
In addition, whitewash protects well from sunburn, and is also a good protection against rodents. The fungicides included in bleaching solutions kill pests and pathogens that overwinter in cracks and exfoliation of tree bark.
When is the best time to bleach fruit trees?
Traditionally, most gardeners prefer to whitewash fruit trees twice a season – in early spring, until the buds have blossomed on the tree, and in late autumn, before the onset of cold weather. Undoubtedly, the most important is the autumn one, which performs much more functions. Spring whitewash performs only the role of prevention and protection against pests, while autumn, in addition, protects the trunks from sunburn and frost, which is no less important.
The protective effect of whitewash against temperature changes is manifested in the ability of white to reflect the sun’s rays. On a bright sunny day in winter, and especially in early spring, dark tree trunks can heat up to + 20 ° C, while the air temperature remains negative. Particles of adhering snow turn into water, which flows into cracks in the bark. After sunset, the water freezes again, turning into ice, which, increasing in volume, simply breaks the bark of the tree. Whitewashed trunks practically do not heat up, therefore, there are much fewer cracks on them.
Whitewashing fruit trees in autumn: timing
Since winter comes to different regions of our country at different times, the timing of whitewashing fruit trees in different areas will be different. The optimal time for bleaching is the period after leaf fall, when the temperature is set near zero. In the Moscow region and Central Our Country, this is the end of October or the beginning of November. In Siberia and the Urals, winter comes earlier, so fruit trees can be bleached a little earlier in these regions. In the southern regions, you can start whitewashing in the middle or even the end of November.
Autumn whitewashing of fruit trees is one of the last stages of pre-winter preparation of an orchard. For work, it is desirable to choose a dry sunny day. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the long-term weather forecast, because if rains are still expected ahead, the applied whitewash can simply be washed off the trunks, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
Preparation of tools and materials
For whitewashing fruit tree trunks, you can use the following tools:
- roller;
- paint brushes;
- buckets;
- atomizer or sprayer (sprayer).
If necessary, you can easily make a homemade brush from a bunch of grass, pieces of synthetic twine or other fibrous material. With this tool, you can easily whitewash several trunks. If the garden is quite large, it is more advisable to use a spray gun.
If whitewash gets on exposed skin or eyes, rinse them with plenty of clean water, and if necessary, go to the hospital.
The composition of whitewash for fruit trees
Various materials can be used as whitewash. The most popular of them are the following:
- Hydrated lime solution.
- PVA glue.
- Acrylic paint.
- Water-based (water-dispersion) paint.
- A piece of chalk.
As a rule, a fungicide, such as copper sulphate, is added to the composition of the bleaching solution. All compositions differ from each other in durability, breathability, as well as cost. The cheapest way to whitewash fruit trees is to use slaked lime or chalk, however these materials are the most unstable and are easily washed off by rain.
For whitewashing any adult trees, you can use, for example, the following composition:
- slaked lime – 2,5 kg;
- PVA glue – 0,2 kg;
- copper sulfate – 0,5 kg.
Other whitening compounds are often used, adding clay, manure and other materials as components. To increase the durability and better adhesion of the composition to the bark, instead of carpentry glue, laundry soap is often used, adding 1 piece grated to the whitewash, per 10 liters of the composition.
If funds allow, ready-made water-based, water-dispersion or acrylic paints can be used for whitewashing. They are highly resistant, but not all are breathable. It is very important that the bark, especially of young trees and seedlings, breathe. Therefore, for their whitewashing, it is preferable to use paints intended for facade work, since they allow air to pass through.
Preparation of trunks for whitewashing
Before proceeding with whitewashing, it is necessary to clean the bark of mosses and lichens. To do this, you can use a wooden scraper or a brush with hard plastic bristles. Iron scrapers and wire brushes should not be used, they can leave deep wounds on the bark, especially in young trees. This procedure is best done in wet weather, scraping off all the excess on a bedded oilcloth or plastic wrap.
And you should also remove all young shoots on the trunk of a tree growing below the first skeletal branches. Cracks and damage must be repaired with a special putty or a mixture of mullein and clay. You can also use garden pitch based on natural resins for this.
After cleaning the barrel, it would be advisable to treat it with a solution of copper sulfate. This is an additional preventive measure that helps both from wintering pests and from pathogens of various diseases. To prepare a disinfectant solution, you need to take 100 g of copper sulfate powder and dilute it in 10 liters of water. This mixture needs to be treated with a tree trunk before whitewashing, however, most gardeners process not only the trunk, but the entire crown.
Whitewashing fruit trees in autumn
The minimum height of whitewashing fruit trees in autumn is up to the level of the first skeletal branches. In snowy regions, this is quite enough. However, in climatic regions with a large thickness of snow cover, the lower skeletal branches are almost at the same level with the snow surface. This can lead to their damage by rodents or hares. To avoid this, the height of the whitewash should be increased to about 1,5 m, having processed not only the bole, but also the lower skeletal branches.
Mature trees are bleached, as a rule, in two layers. Such a measure allows you to better paint over the entire surface of the trunk, ensuring the flow of the whitening composition into all cracks.
Saplings and young fruit trees less than 5 years old are bleached with a breathable solution with a reduced content of the active substance. Older trees are painted, gradually bypassing the tree in a circle and applying a whitening composition from the very roots to the required height.
Garden care after whitewashing
If whitewashing is carried out on time, after it it remains only to carry out work on sheltering seedlings and young trees for the winter. In addition, a special fence can be installed around them, which will prevent damage to them by rodents or hares. To do this, you can use a metal mesh, wooden gratings and other materials.
Young trees and seedlings can be covered with spruce branches, bundles of reeds, cardboard boxes, or special shelters knocked together from wooden slats and covered with thick paper or burlap. Also, to protect fruit trees from cold and wind, a non-woven covering material can be used, from which a kind of bag is constructed, which is worn on top and then fixed at the bottom with twine.
Conclusion
Whitewashing the trunks of fruit trees in autumn is not only a way to give the garden a beautiful well-groomed look. It reduces the likelihood of damage to tree trunks by sun and frost, and it is also a good way to control pests that hibernate on a tree. Whitewashing is the most affordable way to prevent diseases and protect the garden, especially in winter.