When is the best time to whitewash fruit trees – late February or early March: you’ll never guess

27.01.2023 12:43

Experienced gardeners assure that garden trees should be whitewashed twice a year – in autumn and spring. In the first case, whitewashing protects against sunburn, in the second case, it also protects against pest attacks.

You can't get back the time lost in autumn, which means you need to make amends in spring. Let's name the ideal time for whitewashing.

If you listen to conversations around the dacha, it becomes clear that trees need to be whitewashed either at the end of February or at the beginning of March.

Why whiten?

In spring, some prefer to renew the layer of whitewash, while others have to apply it anew. But be that as it may, it is necessary to understand that the onset of calendar spring brings a lot of unpleasant surprises, including temperature changes.

Already at the beginning of March, in warm weather, tree trunks can begin to warm up thoroughly, which means that the sap will soon begin to flow.

Trunk Whitewash
Photo: © Belnovosti

But early sap flow with the threat of night frosts will not lead to anything good. There is a high probability of frost cracks due to sharp changes in day and night temperatures.

Therefore, paint is applied to the trunks before the trees awaken from winter hibernation, i.e. in February. Moreover, the trunks are whitewashed from the base at the ground to the skeletal branches.

Igor Zur Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor