Pruning, plant protection, Tricho Immune
Towards the end of winter, as the weather warms up and the sun comes out more and more, a sense of wanting to do something is emerging in gardeners. The quiet planning, huddled behind a desk, is now broken by the warming sun and the fresh air of the garden. Pruning is the usual activity of the season.
The role of pruning
Pruning is the basic maintenance of woody plants in particular. In the case of ornamental plants, the main aim is to maintain the desired shape. Secondly, to encourage stronger shoots and remove dead or diseased parts.
In the case of fruit crops, we are talking about a much more complex task. The unpruned tree can also produce a crop, but its quality parameters are not even close to the desired ones. The tree starts to alternate, i.e. its yield becomes intermittent, one year it will collapse under the many fruits, the next year it will only bear a few. The fruiting zone is displaced to the periphery of the crown, growth slows down and the tree gradually ages.
In the thickened crown, pests and pathogens also proliferate, and sprays cannot penetrate the crown. Pruning therefore has an influence on the quality, quantity and location of the fruit. The overall health of the tree and its growth rate.
When do we prune?
Winter/early spring pruning in Hungary has mainly economical reasons, as there is more free labour. On the other hand, the crown structure is clearer and more accessible. Compared to summer pruning, stronger growth is generated, which is highly desirable for the initial development of the plant.
In terms of species, apples (apples, pears, quince, naspolya, birch), berries and grapes are not particularly sensitive to the time of pruning. In a hobby garden, we prune in stages and start with the above.
Pruning of stone fruits (cherries, sour cherries, apricots, peaches, plums) should, if possible, start after the first decade of March. The frost-sensitive species can still be damaged until then, the denser crowns are more frost resistant.
After pruning, the plant's moisture circulation starts earlier, which can also lead to frost damage. The pathogens that cause common strokes (Leucostoma persoonii / cinctum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae etc.) are less likely to be infected. Callosification and wound healing of the already initiated plant will take place more quickly.
Wounds
In all cases, the pruning will result in wounds. For slow-healing areas larger than 5 HUF, apply a wound treatment paste. The paste solidifies in a short time and protects the surface from pathogens, precipitation and insects by spreading it thickly enough. If you mix a copper-based preparation into the paste, its fungicidal and germicidal properties can be even more effective.
A common problem is that minor wounds remain untreated, leaving the door open for pathogens. Experience has shown that it can take 1-2 years before they are completely covered by wound tissue. This is a particular problem in the case of vines, where wound treatment has not yet become widespread or the plant does not grow in the wounds, but only dies back.
Tricho Immun
To overcome these problems, the following can be done Tricho Immun our mushroom preparation. To apply, mix 50g of product in 10 litres of water and spray. The two strains of mushrooms contained in the mixture are cold-loving and germinate at 5 °C. It takes about 8 hours for them to enter the trees through pruning wounds and bark cracks. They then exert their beneficial effects in several ways.
- As space parasites, they cover the surface, crowding out pathogens.
- For other fungi, they release an anti-growth substance into their environment.
- As they grow around the filaments of harmful fungi, they actively dissolve and digest them.
- They stimulate the healing of wounds.
- Later on, they will protect against most fungal diseases until the summer heat, when they are sufficiently established in the plant.
- Their metabolic by-products enhance plant growth and fertility (biostimulant effect)
VIDEO: Tricho Immun has been shown to control, among other things, the leucostomatous twig cankers mentioned in stone fruit, making it and its many positive properties the best friend of early gardeners and growers who have to start pruning because of the large area available. It is safe to use the usual detergents alongside the product, or other fungicides later on, but at least two weeks should elapse between applications of Trichoderma and other substances. Asco with Algae mixing helps it to stick to the plant. Note that it can take full effect after it has spread throughout the plant, which takes about a month.
