We independently research, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more. At one time the most popular winter wash material was Tar Oil. Like some others – Mortegg and Bordeaux Mixture come to mind – they have all been withdrawn from the market, but fear not, there are several “safe” alternatives available based on fish oil. An established bush or half-standard tree that has been growing for 3-4 years and developed a good head of branches will need about 3 litres, so 1 bottle of concentrate should do 3 young trees. Prepare the solution: Mix the horticultural oil with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The solution should typically be around 2-3% horticultural oil and 97-98% water. Grease, debris, dust and build up of other substances allow insects secure spots to lay their eggs. Using a winter wash will remove all unwanted debris on your tree, making the conditions less favourable for unwanted insects and reducing the need to use pesticides later in the year.

Gently scrub the bark and branches with the brush or cloth, paying close attention to areas where you can see a lot of dirt or debrisrough guide, the roots spread should very similar to that of the branches. Planting Bare-rooted Fruit Bushes Some pests will overwinter in leaf litter or in the soil around your fruit trees so they can be near to their food source when spring comes around. Good garden hygiene is the answer. Rake up all fallen leaves and compost them away from your trees to foil pests such as apple blossom weevil, which can destroy flowers and ruin your fruit crop.

A visual inspection of the trunk and branches will highlight any pruning that is required. Apple and pear trees may be pruned now, removing any dead or diseased growth, controlling shape and size and promoting good airflow through the branches. All stone fruits must wait to be pruned in midsummer to avoid infection by a devastating fungal disease known as silver leaf. Good quality, well maintained, clean and sharp, pruning tools are essential for a successful job. Spray the tree: Use the sprayer to apply the solution to the entire tree, including the trunk and branches. Make sure to cover all surfaces of the tree, including the top and bottom of the leaves.

Winter wash is an application that kills the egg status of many important pests such as various types of aphids, mites, weevils and moths. It also helps control the spores of fungal diseases. First of all, it is important to understand that while spraying in this way can help to control pests and disease, it will also affect other wildlife. Winter washing will not only target the pest species, but can also remove beneficial wildlife. You may remove queen wasps and other hibernating wildlife in the process, which can do more harm than good in your garden. Winter is also the time to replace rotten stakes, broken supporting wires on which wall-trained fruits are growing, and frayed tree ties. Stems and trunks swell as they grow, so existing tree ties may need loosening to prevent them digging into the bark or rubbing it and opening the door to fungal infection. There are a number of jobs that you should do over winter when it comes to fruit trees. The dormant winter phase is the time to plant new fruit trees. It is also the time to prune a number of different species. Apples, for example, should be pruned over the winter months. Winter washing your fruit trees is another job you might want to consider. But is it really the best solution? Read on to find out more. What is Winter Washing?

The time is ripe for garden enthusiasts to protect trees and bushes from insects and aphids looking for prime spots to lay their eggs this winter. To help prepare for the harsh months ahead, Vitax has developed three products to keep insects at bay. Winter Tree Wash, Fruit Tree Grease and Tree Bands have each been created to ensure trees remain in tip-top condition during the colder months. So what you’ll want to, is you want to spray the whole tree, so everything all the way up, but just pay particular attention to the little nooks and crannies in here. So this is where the eggs and all the other bugs will be hiding out. So just start at the bottom and work your way up giving it a good coverage. As leaves tumble to reveal bare branches, nights become longer and frosts fiercer, it can be tempting to believe that pests are no longer on the prowl. But late autumn and early winter is a crucial time of year for preventative pest control on fruit trees.

Colourless sap

One simple way to protect your trees during the winter is by giving them a ‘winter wash’. As you might expect, this involves removing the dirt, dust, and debris that may have built up on the tree’s bark and leaves. Not only does this help prevent pests and diseases, but it also allows for better air and light penetration, which can help the tree stay healthy. Using a tree guard prevents stripping of the bark. Plastic tree guards are not, in my opinion, the best choice; I have found that they can harbour pests and they tend to keep the bark damp, which encourages disease. I prefer to make a protective tube of wire mesh, as it allows free flow of air, is less hospitable to insect pests and is impossible for rodents to gnaw through.

I remember a case where the problem was Woolly Aphid on young apple trees – the name says it all, if you spray lightly, the woolly covering will protect the beasties, they need to be washed out. The case I have in mind was dealt with slightly differently, using a paint brush to apply methylated spirits. In general, good long-term management of your fruit tree or trees is better than extreme solutions. The key to success in an organic garden lies in creating a balanced and healthy ecosystem. When a tree is healthy and the ecosystem of the garden is in balance, pests and disease may still occur, but are far less likely to get out of control. Natural Pest & Disease ControlNote: this spray will scorch leaves, so it is only suitable for winter use, after trees have lost their leaves and before their buds have begun to open in early spring.Protect surrounding grasses or evergreen plants. The first step is to use a jet of water to dislodge aphid eggs. If this isn’t successful, try an organic winter wash based on plant or fish oils. It will destroy aphid eggs and other overwintering pests. For it to be effective, a winter wash needs to be applied in early winter, after the leaves have dropped, and again in spring before the trees burst into growth. Winter tree wash used to be simply Bordeaux mixture, based on copper sulphate and slaked lime. This was first used on vines initially to discourage pilferers. Its fungicidal and bactericidal properties were discovered by chance. For many years, it was used on fruit trees. The copper in the mixture combated both fungal diseases and the pests as listed above. Bordeaux mixture was ideal as a winter fungicide because it adhered to trees even in rainy weather. It could even be made by farmers themselves, using 10 pounds of copper sulphate, 10 pounds of dry hydrated lime, and 100 gallons of water (or 3.5 tablespoons of copper sulphate, 10 tablespoons of dry hydrated lime, and 1 gallon of water).