Spring processing of apple trees against pests and diseases contributes to the preservation of the crop, as it prevents possible harm. The fight against insects is conducted throughout the year, but its main stage falls precisely on the spring.
When are apple trees treated from pests?
Treatment of apple from pests in the spring passes in three stages:
- In March, until the appearance of sap flow and tying the kidneys. At this time, pests are destroyed by mechanical means, namely: cut the crown of trees, the trunk is cleaned of dry bark, lichen and moss. During pruning, dry branches and parasite branches are removed, which include one-year-old shoots that grow vertically upward and do not bear fruit. The wound should be treated with warmed resin or garden wax. Most of the insects accumulate in the cracks of the cortex. Therefore, for their destruction, whitewash the trunk with lime. In addition, the soil is treated with pesticides around the trees.
- In April, after tying the kidneys on the trees, but before the flowering. The treatment is carried out by spraying apples from pests. The process is best done after sunset in the absence of wind. In this case, not only the trees themselves are treated, but also the soil around them.
- After flowering of apple trees. During this period, each tree is applied a hunting belt about 20 cm wide, which is made of sackcloth, wrapping paper and glue. In addition, spraying with drugs that do not contain chemistry. The use of chemicals can damage insects that participate in the pollination process. Therefore, plants are treated with special substances that destroy pests that damage foliage and fruits (mites, apple aphids, moth flies, coffin, leaf rollers).
Means against pests of apple-trees
To protect the apple from pests and diseases use drugs that are called insecticides. Depending on the mode of action on insects, they are divided into two types:
- Contact, which destroy pests by direct contact. At the same time, the chemicals contained in the preparation do not penetrate the plant. It is advisable to apply this tool during the first stage of processing apple trees, since it can quickly eliminate insects that remained on the tree after winter. The disadvantage of contact preparations is their short duration - in dry weather it is about one week, and with precipitation less than a week.
- Systemic, which penetrate into the plant and affect insects from the inside. These insecticides have a longer duration, which lasts about two weeks. They do not affect the taste qualities of fruits, since they are instantly derived from them. Preparations are recommended for use during the second stage of spring processing of apple trees.
The most common contact insecticides are:
- benzophosphate;
- carbofos;
- trichlorol-5.
Among the drugs of systemic action the most popular are:
- insegar;
- actar;
- karate zeon.
During the spring treatment of apple-trees from pests, it is possible to use not only chemical agents, but also various infusions:
- copper or iron vitriol;
- onion husk;
- garlic;
- tobacco dust;
- household soap.
Thus, the spring processing of apple trees will protect them from the negative impact of insects, which can cause significant damage to the future crop, and thereby prevent its loss.