Proper care of an apple orchard allows you to get a good harvest. These trees need timely treatment from diseases and pests, whitewashing, pruning and feeding. Spraying apple trees with copper sulfate in spring is one of the most important measures to ensure a good harvest. After it comes the turn of other procedures - digging the earth around the tree trunk, fertilizing, mulching and watering.

Why spray apple trees with copper and iron sulfate

Copper sulfate is a remedy for many diseases and pests. For example, it is effective against pathologies such as anthracnose, moniliosis and scab. In addition, copper sulfate is used to combat moths, mites and other pests.

Important!Processing apple trees in spring for diseases and pests with iron sulfate is also an indispensable element of garden care. Among other things, this product promotes the restoration of old trees, increases the yield, frees the trunks of moss and lichen.

Copper and iron sulfate: similarities and differences

Soil cultivation with copper sulfate in spring for tomatoes

From a chemical point of view, ferrous sulfate is ferrous sulfate. It looks like small crystals of a light bluish-green hue. Iron vitriol is beneficial for the apple tree in that it helps prevent fungal diseases. It is also used in cases where chlorosis develops due to a lack of iron after dropping the ovary. With a solution (5%) of this substance, apple trees are treated against scab and septoria.

Spraying apple trees with copper sulfate

Important! Ferrous sulfate is not used for spraying against rodents or mites. It is also not a growth promoter.

Copper sulfate is copper sulfate. These are crystals of a beautiful blue hue, which lose their color upon contact with air. If necessary, it can also be used to feed the apple tree if the soil contains little of this element. However, most often this remedy is used to fight fungi. It is used both in pure diluted form and as part of finished preparations, for example, Bordeaux liquid. Copper sulfate will also be useful for treating wounds on apple tree trunks.

When is it better to spray apple trees

Top dressing of apple trees in spring with urea

You need to spray the apple trees according to a specific schedule. This is done using different drugs. But the apple orchard is treated with copper sulfate 2 times a year without fail. The first spraying should be done in early spring. This is done as soon as the weather is stable with a temperature of 5-10 ° C. Re-processing is carried out in autumn, when the trees shed their leaves. In different regions, the timing may vary slightly, usually in October.

Dilution of copper sulfate for spraying

If you do not spray the apple trees on time, then this can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of:

  • burns of buds, flowers and leaves in case of a shift in spring feeding;
  • decrease in productivity in summer;
  • the inability for trees to accumulate a sufficient supply of sap for the winter;
  • decrease in frost resistance indicators.

If all the work is done on time, the chances of getting a good apple harvest will be higher.In addition, it will prevent trees from contaminating harmful microorganisms, apple trees overwinter well, and in spring they will have healthy bark with good elasticity.

How to spray apple trees

Top dressing of apple trees in spring

Before you treat apple trees with a solution of copper sulfate in the spring, you need to study the methods of preparing this tool. Since the drug itself contains substances with high acidity, in its pure form it can provoke a burn. Therefore, it is recommended to dilute it in a certain proportion. It is best to use the following classic recipe for Bordeaux liquid: for 10 liters of water, 100 g of copper sulfate and about 100-150 g of quicklime.

Important! To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve vitriol in the specified dosage in one container, lime in another, and only then mix them together.

Before processing the apple orchard with this solution, it must be filtered. Otherwise, suspended particles of the product will clog the sprayer nozzle. The maximum effect will be achieved after 2-3 treatments. Preventive spraying is carried out at intervals of 10-12 days between procedures.

Bordeaux mixture

Above is the proportion for 1% Bordeaux liquid. In more serious cases, 3% should be used. They use it immediately after cooking, because after a while flakes will begin to form in it. The average consumption of funds is 2-5 liters per apple tree.

Another vitriol preparation is the Burgundy mixture. It is also a solution that is prepared in a similar way, only soda ash (10 g) is added there.

For scab, aphids, apple blossom beetle, and some other pests, trees are treated with urea. This remedy is used, like vitriol, immediately after flowering and only then in late autumn.

How to feed an apple tree

Feed apple trees

It is also important for every gardener to know how to feed the apple tree. This procedure is carried out at any time of the year. Which means to use for this depends on the season. In the spring, if there are signs of chlorosis, it can be iron vitriol (2 teaspoons of powder in 1 bucket of water). Organic fertilizers (humus) and ammonium nitrate are suitable for root feeding at this time. In summer, phosphate-potassium fertilizers, urea, and dung are recommended.

Treating apple trees with copper sulfate and fertilizing are key components of apple tree care. These measures are aimed at increasing yields, increasing resistance to adverse weather conditions. If you do not carry out such procedures, then there can be no question of high-quality apples.