What are the latest precautions for bark scraping on fruit trees
Bark scraping on fruit trees is a commonly used technique in cultivation. The old bark of fruit trees is where pests and diseases overwinter, and after the following year it becomes an important source of pests and diseases, affecting the yield and quality of the fruit trees. Therefore, bark scraping is carried out on fruit trees to reduce the source of pests and diseases and to prevent and control them, but there are a few points to note when scraping bark, otherwise it will cause harm to the fruit trees. Let's take a detailed look below.
1. Timing of bark scraping
Generally, it is best to scrape bark after the winter freeze sets in and before Awakening of Insects the following year, that is, after the fruit trees shed their leaves and before the branches flower. In colder regions, bark scraping should not be done too early; it can be done around the Beginning of Spring, so that after the old bark is scraped off, the exposed tender bark does not suffer low-temperature freeze damage. However, it should also not be done too late. If it is too late, the sap begins to flow and the pathogens have already begun to spread; especially after the fruit flower buds differentiate, pests and diseases have already become active. Scraping bark at this time not only fails to prevent and control pests and diseases, but also increases the severity of their damage.
2. Depth of bark scraping
The depth of bark scraping must also be controlled well and should be based on the tree species, but no matter which fruit tree, it must not be scraped too deep or too shallow. If the bark is scraped down to the tree body and the xylem of the tree is directly exposed, it will damage the tree body; while if the bark is scraped too shallowly, it will not reach the depth needed to remove pests and diseases, and the effect of pest and disease control will be poor. Generally, the outer bark of apple trees is relatively thin and curls up very easily when scraping, so scraping should be done lightly and shallowly; while the bark of pear trees is relatively thick and the cracks are larger, so scraping should be deep and heavy until the red inner bark of the tree is exposed; while fruit trees such as peach, apricot, and persimmon tend to exude gum after bark scraping, so heavy scraping is not suitable. The method of wiping the bark can be used.
3. Post-scraping treatment
After scraping bark from fruit trees, first clean up the weeds, residual branches, and fallen leaves in the orchard, then lay plastic film or newspaper around the trunk so that the scraped bark, debris, and pest- and disease-damaged residues can be collected, and bury them deeply in the soil so that after fermentation they become nutrients for the fruit trees. Then use a whitewash agent to brush the trunk after bark scraping once, to prevent pests and diseases.
The above is an introduction to the precautions for bark scraping on fruit trees. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.