There is an opinion that it is impossible to protect the bark of fruit trees from cracking in severe frosts.
Of course, prolonged exposure to low temperatures can be detrimental to all crops. However, there are ways to minimize the potential damage from severe frosts and strong winds.
Whitewash
Many summer residents perceive whitewashing as a preventative measure against insects that become active in the spring. Why not think a little about the technology? Simple whitewashing can protect a tree from wind and low temperatures. Experienced summer residents try to whitewash trees not only in the spring, but also in the fall.
Another reason to whitewash trees is that it creates a coating against ultraviolet radiation. And in severe frosts, the sun can burn the tree bark, leaving corresponding damage on the surface.
To achieve this effect, you should use high-quality whitewash. If you consider whitewash that is prepared from improvised materials, there will be no particular benefit from it.
Clay
This method was used by our ancestors. To prepare a clay solution, you should follow several rules:
- The clay is mixed gradually with water.
- It must be stirred for 2 days, adding water as needed.
- In the end, you should get a consistency that resembles thick sour cream.
The clay solution can be safely used to treat the bark and branches. Some summer residents at this stage also add a little copper sulfate. The most interesting thing is that such a solution was actively used by our ancestors to treat cracks in the bark of a tree.
It also performs a preventive function.
roofing felt
Do you have any unnecessary roofing felt left on your property? You can safely use it to protect tree trunks. It is quite easy to use roofing felt, you just need to select a piece of the appropriate size, wrap it around the tree and tie it up.
Important rule: if the tree trunks are small, there is no point in using roofing felt. The thing is that it does not let air through. It makes sense to use it only for thick tree trunks that can suffer from low temperatures.
Sackcloth
Burlap can be called a universal material that can be used for wrapping fruit trees. We can recall several of its advantages:
- Allows air to pass through.
- Easy to cut into pieces of the required size.
- You can secure it even in winter using regular wire and other similar materials.
When fixing the burlap, do not use force. After the onset of warmth, the burlap should be removed from the tree immediately. You should not leave it, as various pests and even pathogens of dangerous fungal diseases may appear inside.
Garden var.
It makes sense to use garden pitch only if cracks have already appeared. In autumn or spring, it is necessary to inspect the tree and treat all wounds, cuts and other damage to the bark. Garden pitch can be made by hand or bought ready-made in a specialized store.
