Most gardeners believe that trees need to be whitened in the fall. However, inappropriate whitewashing is washed away by autumn rains or sleet, and by the end of winter it is not visible at all. Now we will try to figure out whether it is possible to whiten plants in spring.
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Sunburn on tree trunks
Basically, whitewashing is carried out due to burns of the hot sun and frost cracks that appear on the bark of all trees due to the occurrence of unexpected temperature fluctuations. In the daytime, the trunk heats up from the sun, as a result, the snow melts, then falls into folds and cracks, and then the liquid freezes and the ice breaks the crust. This occurs mainly in the third decade of February or early spring, but in areas with variable winter temperatures it happens much earlier, even at the beginning of the winter period.
A layer of liquid lime or white paint on the bark and shoots not only repels the sun's rays and the plant heats up less, but in addition to all this, it protects the plants from getting liquid into the holes on bark.
Therefore, the plant is whitewashed precisely in late autumn before the onset of frost in order to create protection for it from winter injuries.
Preparing crops for painting
Of course, autumn whitewashing is not a protection against diseases, but only prevention, most likely one of the main preventive measures. And, in order to achieve an optimal result, the plants must be prepared for whitewashing, i.e. carry out cleaning.
It is during this period of autumn that lichen and moss accumulate on the surface of the trunk, but due to the abundance of rainfall, they become soft and are easily peeled off the bark. To carry out this process, you can use a stiff brush and sand the damaged parts. Then you should carry out the treatment with antifungal agents and only after 2-3 days you can start whitewashing.
It is not necessary to peel the bark in the spring, as any damage can adversely affect flowering and fruiting, and besides, pests and pathogenic bacteria in the warm season will harm faster plants.
Why whitewashing trees in spring is considered a useless procedure
Now you know that the main benefit of whitewashing occurs if it is done in late winter to early spring. And subsequently, the sun's rays, without reflecting from the snow cover, become much softer, and the foliage protects the surface of the trunk from burns, and frosts have already stopped by that time. In addition to all this, with the onset of spring, a period of completely different treatments begins, which help to fight insect invasions and the development of diseases.
If it was not possible to whitewash in the fall or the composition did not cope with the humidity and completely peeled off from the trunk, re-whiten no later than February 15 and be sure at an air temperature of at least 5 ° C.
Didn't have time to paint, then it's better to do it in the fall. During late whitewashing, paint or lime can get on the buds, foliage or inflorescences, as a result of which the harvest risks perishing and the trees weaken.
If you visited the garden site at the end of the winter period, but the frost has not yet stopped and you cannot apply it yet paint on trees, then create protection from the spring sun with shields or burlap, any paper or spunbond. These materials will do a great job of this.
Do you think you need a spring whitewashing of trees?
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