Vitax 500ml Winter Tree Wash

Product Information

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. This natural, plant oil-based treatment is highly effective at dramatically reducing pest numbers. It is safe around pets and children, and by applying it at this time of year it will have minimal impact on other wildlife. Spray it directly onto the bark on a still, windless day, covering all of the branchwork to leave no escape. Don't forget to wear a mask and gloves to protect yourself from drifting spray. A winter wash is something I always make a point of doing during the colder months. Here, I’ll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to winter wash trees, as well as some tips for managing different types of trees. How do I winter wash my trees?

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. Some aphids, for example woolly aphid, and brown peach aphid, do not have a summer host and instead remain on fruit trees throughout the year. Fruit aphid populations are often not noticed until the plants are showing obvious signs of damage in the spring and early summer. In some cases by this time the damage is done and the aphids may have already left for their summer hosts or been consumed by predators making control measures redundant and undesirable With a blend of surfactants and natural oils, it removes insect debris, dust and wax which insects use to secure their eggs. Suitable for use on evergreen plants, it removes contaminants from the leaf surface to increase light exposure and encourage photosynthesis. 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 debrisOn fruit trees and shrubs. Overwintering aphid eggs can be destroyed by using a plant oil winter wash (organic e.g. Growing Success Winter Tree Wash). This can be used when the buds are fully dormant in November-early February on a dry frost-free day. Plant oil winter washes are less likely to be detrimental to natural enemies and can mean that spring sprays are unnecessary Today, in the UK, Bordeaux mixture is illegal. A replacement is made by VITAX, which is now the only firm in the UK manufacturing a winter fruit tree wash. The Vitax replacement is legal and effective. It is based on natural plant and fish oils, and it works by physical means: in other words, it can be used on edible crops, because it is non-toxic and is suitable for organic growing. It should be applied in dry conditions during the trees’ dormant period. Winter washing can be an effective way to rid yourself of overwintering pests and fungal spores on fruit trees. It is possible to find ‘organic’ solutions for this purpose. But in an organic garden, winter washing is not necessarily a good idea.

Loosen cap and squeeze gently to fill the measuring chamber. Mix 50ml per litre of water and apply as a fine spray, thoroughly covering all bark surfaces including the crooks of branches or stems where pests may harbour. 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.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.

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. Follow label instructions when using pesticides. On edible plants make sure the food plant is listed on the label and follow instructions on maximum number of applications, spray interval and harvest interval.

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. Start with a general feed of Growmore fertilizer around the base of the fruit trees one handful sprinkled over a square metre under the tree. General pruning basics for apple trees– best carried out in late winter early spring before flowering and the spring leaf break. Normally an apple tree will have two types of growth. The first being the fruiting buds stems with short stubby nodes or buds about 5mm to 10mm long with rings around the base, these are the fruiting buds and these stems need leaving unless you are reshaping the apple tree because these buds are next crop of flowers and fruit.

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. In September and October apply a grease band on the main stem to stop winter months from crawling up the stem into the tree. Here is a link to some more information the wash into every nook and cranny within the tree or bush. Problems with Winter Wash of Fruit Trees. With all the leaves long shed it's easier to spot and promptly remove any mummified fruit hanging on in the branches. You may think these fruits pose little threat, but they are carriers for disease; left on the tree they have the potential to re-infect the following year. Better safe than sorry, so you're best rid of them.

Bare branches

Made from a blend of natural plant and fish oils, this winter tree wash is formulated to remove debris and dirt from trees to help protect against overwintering pests. Perfect for green gardeners, the product works by purely physical means and is completely non-toxic. It can be safely used on edible and ornamental crops, both outdoors and under glass. 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. Where possible tolerate populations of aphids, they form an important part ofmany food chains and can be part of a healthy garden ecosystem