Some people who are far from gardening have a strange opinion that trees are whitened for beauty. However, this is not at all true.
This manipulation is very important for the plant itself for completely different reasons, and to be more precise, it primarily performs a protective function, rather than a decorative one. Without any doubt, additional fuss is unlikely to please you in a series of autumn worries, but all the costs will be more than recouped by long-term abundant flowering and a rich harvest. So, it will be wiser and more practical not to neglect such a useful and extremely necessary event as whitewashing tree trunks in the fall and spring.
Why do you need to whitewash trees?
Answer to the question “ Do I need to whitewash trees? "in the middle zone (Moscow region), in the Urals and Siberia it is clear - “Yes, it is necessary . But with a small southern exception .
If you live in a very warm region, where there are no sub-zero temperatures and sudden changes in weather (minus-plus), then based on the main purpose of whitewashing, you practically do not need such a procedure.
By the way! All garden trees need to be whitened, not just fruit trees.
Why are trees whitewashed, what goals are pursued:
- prevent frost damage (sunburn) - cracks in the bark that form due to temperature changes (plus or minus) during the transitional winter-spring period.
- destroy all kinds of insect pests and other parasites, as well as their eggs that are going to overwinter in the bark (mites, lacewings, leaf rollers, moths, etc.);
- (based on the previous one) protect the bark from pests, pathogenic microorganisms and bacteria;
- simultaneously carry out a kind of treatment and disinfection of wounds;
- and last but not least, make the garden more vibrant and attractive (aesthetics).
Video: why and how to whitewash trees
Is it possible to whitewash young trees?
Some novice gardeners believe that whitewashing can, on the contrary, only harm young trees. However, this is not at all the case, unless, of course, you follow certain rules.
Trees are whitened, both old and young. But on young seedlings you should use weaker solutions (if you use lime, then its concentration should be reduced by 2 times) so as not to burn the young bark. Or you can use special paints for whitewashing garden trees, for example, water-based or water-dispersion, or acrylic. But whitening is necessary, since young seedlings have very thin bark, which can easily be damaged in late winter and early spring from sunburn (burst due to temperature differences).
By the way! There is a well-founded opinion that it is better not to bleach very young seedlings with smooth bark, but to wrap the trunk with white covering material (spunbond tapes). This way you will not only prevent sunburn, but also protect the seedling from rodents.
Video: protecting young fruit trees from sunburn using whitewash
How to whitewash trees
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare tree trunks.
