Whitewashing of fruit trees in the fall - a mandatory procedure, which is not for beauty. She has several main objectives:
- bark protection from severe changes in temperature. Good whitewash to protect the bark from the appearance of cracks;
- Protection of bark from sunburn. Contrary to popular belief, the tree can get a serious sunburn, even in winter. The main reason - is the lack of leaves, which absorb the bulk of the summer sun;
- Protection from garden pestsThat inhabit the bark of fruit trees;
- Protection of existing wounds and injuries. Before whitewash, wounds smeared mandatory, however, whitewash forming another protective layer.
Good whitewashing must fulfill all the objectives assigned to it. But, does the all the requirements of a mortar? Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is no.
What is minus mortar?
Gardeners and farmers use lime solutions for many years. The main reason for their popularity - the availability and low cost.
However, the mortar has several global disadvantages that do not allow me to recommend it to whitewash the trees.
- Firstly, calcareous solutions quickly washed away by rains. You have to understand that after the first frosts of October, there may come a rainy month. During this time, most of the protective coating is washed away, and leave the ground. Sense from a whitewash will not be enough;
- Secondly, protective qualities mortar completely not high. Especially compared to modern drugs;
- Third, the high concentration of lime can burn the young bark. Use these solutions for young trees, which are so necessary whitewash, you can not.
Of course, the lime solution is much better than nothing, but they are not the most effective solution.
I use instead of the mortar?
Among the gardeners are gaining popularity purchased mixture and paint whitewash. Among them:
- emulsion paint. (Not to be confused with a paintbrush. On the bank written in large letters "for the trees");
- acrylic paint(Not to be confused with a paintbrush. On the bank written in large letters "for the trees");
- Silver biomaska.
You can buy them in any gardening or hardware store. The cost of such pobelok much higher than that of the mortar, but they are an order of magnitude more efficient. Here are a few major advantages:
- Lime content in such solutions is almost two times less, making them suitable for even the youngest of the trees;
- They form a dense film that provides excellent protection from the bark of unfavorable external environment;
- They practically do not washed away by rain, which guarantees the safety function until the end of next season;
- The composition of such mixtures is always present antiseptic.
Personally, I prefer water-based paint for wood, but you can use any other. I do not do advertising, just I want to share the experience of the transition from the lime mortar in the store bought mix.
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