It's already the second month of spring on the calendar, which means it's time to switch attention from seedlings to the garden.
The period begins when wintering insect pests begin to emerge from hibernation. It is important to catch up before they begin to actively spread around the garden in search of food and reproduction.
It is in April that gardeners recommend starting work to protect fruit trees and shrubs from insects and diseases.
First processing
If we talk specifically about pome fruits, then the key figures in the garden in this regard are apple and pear trees.
These trees can be treated in early spring, i.e. as soon as the snow melts and the air temperature remains stable at +5 degrees Celsius.
How and what to process
The treatment begins with sanitary pruning. Over the winter, some branches may have dried out or broken. All of this must be removed.
The same is done with damaged shoots where signs of disease are visible. As for moss and lichen, if desired, it can be cleaned with a wooden scraper so as not to damage the bark.
The cut areas are treated with garden pitch or another composition, the area around the trunks is tidied up and the trunks are whitewashed.
At the final stage, apple and pear trees are treated with a 3% Bordeaux mixture.
In this case, the risk of trees becoming infected with fungus can be considered minimal.
