In order to get a rich harvest of tasty and healthy apples, it is often necessary to think about how you can protect the apple tree from various diseases and harmful insects. Gardeners with considerable experience were able to create such a processing system, with the help of which it is possible to completely preserve all the fruits. In spring, apple trees are very vulnerable.
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How to process apple trees in the spring
Before proceeding with the processing, it is necessary to prepare the apple tree grown in the garden. To do this, remove all branches and areas of the bark that are infected. Those wounds that remain on the tree after this must be treated. To do this, use a solution of copper sulfate, after which a layer of garden varnish is applied. After that, the surface of the trunk must be treated with garden whitewash, this is a preventive measure against infection by harmful insects. Only then can you begin to spray the apple tree.
In order to protect the tree, one treatment is not enough. So, experienced gardeners carry out this procedure 3 times:
- before the kidneys swell;
- while the kidneys swell;
- after the plant has faded.
The first treatment is usually carried out in March. At this time, the kidneys have not yet begun to swell, and the air outside begins to warm up to 5 degrees and higher. When the plant blooms, treatment should not be carried out, because otherwise the bees will not pollinate the flowers. You can process apple trees from lunch to evening. It is best to choose a calm and not rainy day for this. What products can be used for spring spraying of apple trees?
Copper sulfate
Since this product has been used by gardeners for many years, its effectiveness is proven. The use of copper sulfate allows you to get rid of moniliosis, phyllosticosis, scab, curliness and other diseases. But at the same time, this substance has one significant drawback, namely, a sufficiently high acidity. However, when mixed with an alkaline substance, the acidity decreases. Various solutions can be made to process this garden culture:
- Bordeaux mixture. Such a solution consists of quicklime and copper sulfate. In the first spring treatment, you can use a more saturated solution, in order to make it, you need to dissolve 450 grams of quicklime and 300 grams of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water.For the following treatments, a less saturated solution should be used. So, in 10 liters of water, 150 grams of lime and 100 grams of copper sulfate must be dissolved.
- Burgundy mix. To make it, you need to combine soda ash and copper sulfate in a 1: 1 ratio. After that, 100 to 150 grams of the resulting mixture should be dissolved in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is less effective than the previous one, however, after its use, a film does not appear on the surface of the sheet plates.
- Laundry soap solution. In some cases, a mixture is used for processing, consisting of a bucket of water, 150 grams of laundry soap and 20 grams of copper sulfate. This mixture can cause the least damage to the plant, but it is ineffective.
Urea and ferrous sulfate
Iron sulfate not only effectively destroys various pests and many diseases, but also nourishes the plant with such an element as iron. However, such an element has a significant drawback, namely, because of it, underdevelopment of fruits or a rather poor harvest can be observed. As a rule, a solution of no more than 3-5 percent is used for processing, but if you use a more saturated mixture, then a burn may remain on the apple trees.
Such a garden culture is treated with urea in the spring in order to destroy aphids, sucker, leafworm caterpillars and other small harmful insects, as well as larvae laid by them. The first spraying in the spring is carried out with a mixture consisting of a bucket of water, 0.5 kilograms of urea (carbamide) and a little copper sulfate is also poured into it. 7 days after the plant has faded, it is treated with a less saturated solution, so 10 grams of the substance is taken in a bucket of water.
Colloidal sulfur and diesel fuel
For the first processing of apple trees in the spring, you can use diesel fuel. But it should be borne in mind that it must be carried out before the buds swell, since this substance can burn them, just like the leaves. Spraying with diluted diesel fuel can stop putrefactive processes. In order to make a mixture, you need to combine water and diesel fuel in a 2: 1 ratio.
A solution made from colloidal sulfur is quite effective in fighting scab and powdery mildew. From 30 to 80 grams of the substance should be dissolved in a bucket of water. To create a stable suspension, you should put laundry soap into the resulting solution. In order to get rid of fungal diseases and mites, use a lime-sulfuric broth. To prepare it, mix 0.4 kg of sulfur powder, 0.6 kg of hydrated lime and 2 liters of water. This mixture must be boiled for a third of an hour.
Modern drugs for harmful insects and diseases
If you prefer modern drugs designed to combat various harmful insects and diseases that can harm apple trees, then you should go to a special store. On its shelves you will see a huge variety of products. Some of them have a relatively narrow focus, while others have a complex effect. In order to save apple trees and get a rich harvest, the gardener can use only such means or use them in combination with the above. It is not possible to describe all this kind of means, since their list is constantly updated. The most popular among gardeners are such tools as:
- Preparation number 30. Such a drug is highly effective against a variety of harmful insects, while it has a fairly broad effect. It is not poisonous substances that lead to the death of harmful insects, but the fact that due to the film that appears after the application of the product, the pests simply cannot continue to exist.This tool is comparatively harmless, however, experts advise using it for processing no more than 1 time in 3 years.
- Nitrafen. This drug combines the properties of an insecticide and a fungicide. This tool can leave burns on the leaves, in this regard, it can be used only for the first spring treatment and only before the buds swell.
- Bottom. This drug is used to destroy overwintered pests, and it is also able to get rid of rust, clusteroporosis, scab, moniliosis, coccomycosis and other diseases. This tool can be used only 1 time per season.
- Actellic. After the plant is sprayed, harmful insects will die in just a few hours, and all because this drug is an organophosphate insecticide.
- Aktara. It should be used immediately after the tree has faded. This tool will save you from scale insects, aphids, whiteflies and other harmful insects.
- Topaz and Speed The products should be used before and after flowering. They will help get rid of fungal diseases.
In some cases, the use of chemicals for treating apple trees is simply necessary, since otherwise the gardener may be left without a crop.
