Spring garden treatment is necessary
Spring tree treatment in the garden helps prepare trees for active growth and fruiting while preventing and treating diseases. In neglected gardens without treatment, harvests gradually decline because modern tree varieties require treatment with fungicides and insecticides. Older, disease-resistant tree varieties may still produce pest-damaged fruit without treatment.
Tasks of spring garden treatment:
- Eliminating pests and their larvae. Pests overwinter in tree bark, fallen leaves, and soil. Spring insecticide treatment reduces harmful insect numbers before their active life cycle begins. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture eliminates fungi and molds, including lower fungi, and prevents primitive fungal spores from affecting apples, pears, plums, and cherries. Copper compounds are not specific poisons for insect pests but do not benefit them either.
- Preventing fungal diseases in trees. After winter, trees may develop fungal and bacterial infections such as apple and pear scab, powdery mildew, moniliosis, and coccomycosis in stone fruits. Fungicide treatments prevent the spread and development of diseases.
- Boosting growth and immunity. Early spring is a vulnerable time for trees and shrubs. Nitrogen fertilization and micronutrients promote rapid green growth, while copper-based treatments (1-2% copper sulfate solution and Bordeaux mixture) activate plant defense mechanisms.
- Repairing trunk and branch damage. Over winter, trees and shrubs develop frost cracks, ice damage, and rodent damage. We clean wounds, whitewash trunks, and spray with fungicides and insecticides.
Spring tree treatment against diseases and pests strengthens plant immunity and conserves resources for fruit production instead of fighting diseases and pests.
Work on garden treatment in spring
- Inspecting and cleaning tree trunks early in spring. We assess the bark, trunks, and main branches for mosses and lichens. Cleaning trunks with a stiff but non-metallic brush removes lichens, moss, larvae, and lower fungal spores.
- Removing loose bark, lichens, and moss using a stiff polymer brush. A metal brush is only used for aged, cracked bark, as it can damage softer bark and invite infection.
- Cleaning cracks, wounds, and hollows where pests may be hiding for the winter. Treat cracks with a 1% copper sulfate solution, and after drying, apply garden pitch. Carefully remove dead bark and growths without damaging healthy plant tissues.
- During trunk and large branch cleaning, lay down a sheet to collect debris, then gather and burn it in a safe location.
Sanitary pruning of trees
Sanitary pruning of trees and shrubs is done early in spring before buds swell and sap flow begins when the daily temperature averages up to +5°C in April.
Sanitary pruning removes all damaged and non-viable branches. It also protects against diseases and pests. Removing dried and infected branches improves crown transparency and eliminates pest larvae.
Pruning directs energy to new shoot growth and flowering, enhances light penetration and crown ventilation, and provides some protection against fungal infections and mold.
During sanitary pruning, we remove:
- Dry and broken branches damaged by frost that will not recover.
- Pest-infested branches showing signs of rot or growths.
- Crossing and rubbing branches that cause bark injuries, creating infection entry points.
We use professional sharp and disinfected gardening tools: secateurs for thin branches, pruning shears, and saws for thick branches.
Sanitary pruning is done to live wood, and we know how to do it properly, sealing cuts with garden pitch. All fallen leaves and cut branches must be removed or burned in a safe place. Dried fruits and all plant debris should also be cleared.
Whitewashing fruit tree trunks
Lime whitewashing protects against sunburn when the sun is bright, temperatures are high, and the soil is cold. Whitewashing protects against temperature fluctuations and slightly hinders insect movement.
Whitewashing helps eliminate pests like aphids, leaf rollers, scale insects, moths, and mites.
Trunks are whitewashed up to 1–1.5 meters high in March or April before sap flow begins. Lime or special acrylic whitewash is applied with a brush or roller to trunks and lower branches.
The whitewash mixture is about a 20% chalk suspension with lime in water—around 2 kg per bucket. Ready-made whitewash products available in stores can also be used.
Spring tree and shrub spraying schedule
Spraying is the main measure for protecting gardens from diseases and pests. This process should be done four times because wind can bring insects and fungal spores from neighboring areas after the first treatment.
Spraying should start in early spring before pests spread throughout the garden. Various products can be used, such as Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, and insecticide solutions.
First spraying—before bud break. Done in late March or April, depending on climate, when the average temperature is +5°C. At this stage, stronger treatments can be used since vegetation has not yet begun.
- First spraying: 2-3% copper sulfate, 3% Bordeaux mixture (300 g quicklime in 10 L water plus 300 g copper sulfate dissolved while stirring), or 300-400 g copper sulfate per 10 L water.
Second spraying — “green cone stage” when buds start growing. Done 3-4 weeks after the first spraying, in late April or early May, to eliminate pests that damage buds and flowers and their larvae and fungal spores.
- For “green cone” spraying, use 1% Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride (HOM) at 0.2-0.4% concentration (20-40 g per 10 L water), or a mix of fungicides and insecticides as per instructions.
Third spraying—”pink bud stage” when flower buds start opening. Protects buds from pests. Use insecticides like “Aktara,” “Inta-Vir,” “Decis,” and fungicides like “Chorus” and “Fufanon” to prevent moniliosis and other fungal infections. Also, control bud-attacking pests like weevils.
Fourth spraying—”post-flowering,” immediately after petals fall. Suitable products include 1% Bordeaux mixture, insecticides, and fungicides like “Skor,” “Topaz,” and “Chorus.”
After flowering, trees are particularly vulnerable to fungal infections and pest invasions. Spraying helps protect plants from insects and fungi.
Spring garden treatment rules:
- Spray in calm morning or evening hours.
- Avoid spraying in rainy weather, as heavy rain will require reapplication.
- Wear protective clothing and personal protective equipment: gloves, respirators, and goggles.
- Follow product dosage instructions; excessive concentrations can be harmful.
- Treat all tree or shrub parts, ensuring solutions reach the trunk and all branches.
Order our garden treatment service. We provide pest protection—spraying, cleaning, pruning, and garden maintenance—early in spring and late in autumn. Cost starts from $350 per day plus a call-out fee of $60.
Spring tree and shrub treatment is the key to a healthy garden and good harvests.
