Why moss and lichens appear on the trunks of fruit trees: how to deal with it
The reason for the growth of moss and lichen on the trunks and skeletal branches of fruit trees is insufficient agricultural technology and care.
When the conditions in which trees are grown worsen, the resistance of plants to external factors is significantly reduced.
As a result, the intensity of shoot growth decreases and signs of premature aging of the tree appear.
All this creates a favorable environment for the introduction of parasitic plants such as mosses and lichens.
The appearance of these plants is also facilitated by the lack of good ventilation with a too dense crown and cracks in the tree bark, which is a consequence of the freezing of wood in the winter cold.
So, what should you do if moss and lichen appear on trees?
Step 1. Improve the quality of care for fruit trees.
Step 2. Perform sanitary pruning of the tree crown in order to improve the light and air conditions.
Step 3. Treat the affected trunks with special means. This treatment is carried out before the beginning of the growing season.
The following are used for processing:
1. Bordeaux mixture.
2. Ten percent urea.
3. Copper sulfate solution (3%).
4. A warm lye solution prepared from 6 kg of wood ash and ten liters of water.
5. Ten percent solution of ferrous sulfate.
6. A solution prepared from one part oxalic acid and eight parts water.
7. A solution prepared from slaked lime and lye. Use 1.2 kg of lime per 80 liters of water. Add wood ash (4 kg) to the prepared lime solution and leave for several days. Stir the mixture periodically. Apply the prepared solution to the affected areas of the trees with a brush. After several days, the parasitic plants die and fall off.
