A copper-and-lime spray running from the top of a bare tree down to its base, or white limewash brushed along the trunk: these treatments destroy the parasite larvae and fungus hiding in cracks in the bark. Peach, cherry and apple trees are fragile, and a still, frost-free, rain-free day decides whether the treatment works at all.
Peach tree, cherry tree, apple tree… we love each of these in the garden for their nice bearing and their delicious harvests, but they’re actually pretty fragile! Insects, parasites and mushrooms often come ruin the expected crops.
To minimize risks, here are several things to do.
Several treatments exist that will destroy parasite larva and fungus that hide in cracks in the bark, hibernating until they wake up in Spring. The most well-known treatment is Bordeaux mixture, a blend of copper and lime which helps deal with fungal diseases: scab, leaf curl, mildew, bacterial canker…
Lime paint, or whitewash, colors the trunks in white. It’s another option that has proven to be very effective. Every other year, in the middle of Winter, use a paint brush to lather it on the trunks: it destroys parasites and fungus. You can find it ready-to-mix in garden stores under the name of limewater.
Watch out when you’re using these treatments. They’re corrosive, so make sure you’re wearing the proper attire. Your body and face should be completely covered.
Which day you apply the treatment is also relevant. Don’t work on days when it freezes, when it’s very windy, or very hot. Also check for the weather in the following few days: if it rains, all your spray will wash out and you’ll have treated for nothing.
by Laure Hamann
Another excellent option is to go all-natural with one or the other weedy tea. This is the ultimate self-sufficient solution: from weeds and weed residue, you can make very effective fungus-killing sprays.
The article describes several ways of cleaning up an orchard before spring. Here they are side by side, with the moment each one is used and what it actually destroys.
| Treatment | When | How it is applied | What it tackles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux mixture | In Fall once the leaves are down, then again in late winter | Sprayed over the whole tree, from top to bottom | Fungal diseases: scab, leaf curl, mildew, bacterial canker |
| Lime paint (whitewash or limewater) | Middle of Winter, every other year | Lathered onto the trunks with a paint brush | Parasites and fungus sheltering on the trunk |
| Fermented weed tea | Over the winter, from weeds dried the previous summer | Sprayed; fermentation takes longer in the cold | Fungus, with a fully self-sufficient home-made mix |
| Brushing and clearing up | Autumn | Metal brush on the trunk, raking, removing mummified fruit | Moss, dead bark and lichen, which attract parasites |
Whichever you choose, the weather on the day of application matters as much as the product itself.
Treat your trees after you’ve performed the usual winter pruning in the orchard. Cutting and moving all those branches around might have spread spores from one place to the other. Additionally, it’s much easier to spray trees when they’ve been pruned: less branches, and more space to move the nozzle around in the tree!
