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Winter Tree wash
Richard Capon
Posts: 1
In the absence of a traditional Tar Oil Wash, I have bought a Growing Success Winter Tree Wash, but I cannot find any real evidence that a coating of oil on fruit tree bark and overwintering insects does anything at all. Does anyone have any evidence or experience that this stuff works, or have I just wasted £9.99?
Thanks
0
Posts
Can someone explain what the winter wash does? I've an apple tree (not sure what type), a crab apple, and a pear tree in the garden but I can never remember my mother washing any of the many apple trees in her garden.
When I was in Greece all the olive trees were painted white about a quarter of the way up the tree.
I often wondered what it was and assumed it to be effective.
Does anyone know?
That interested me sarah, so I googled it and it seems to be either a rabbit deterrent or to help prevent the bark from being damaged by the extremely hot sun they get.
The white band around the tree's deter climbing insects etc , they won't venture onto the white as they loose their camouflage and become visible to predators.
Clarington -The theory of winter wash was/is that it would kill any overwintering pests that have taken up residence in cracks in the bark etc. The old tar oils were a pretty bunt instrument and argument rages about whether they did more harm than good by killing off beneficial organisms as well as pests. Grease bands trap Winter moths which climb the tree trunk to overwinter and await their chance in spring but these are quite separate from codling moths which fly in.
Richard- I know how you feel with the organic oils- the idea is that if applied correctly they will work by smothering the pests (blocking up their breathing pores) but they need direct contact to work. If something is tucked away under a crack in the bark it may well escape. I have used these modern oils & if nothing else they clean off any green algae that can develop but if they hit the pest directly then they should work. The trouble with all top fruit is they are subject to so many pests & diseases even if you are trying to be organic doing nothing results (over time) in no crop or no usable crop. (Trust me I have tried it). It seems to be a case of using Pheremone traps & grease bands for the 2 types of moth, and a minimal spraying programme to at least subdue the P&D to a level where you can at least get some usable fruit.
You have paid the £9.99 you may as well use it, it can't work sitting in the bottle
Re the white band around trees, ....this is also used as a wide white pathway around granaries to deter mice and rats
I just visited the site to read about winter tar wash, I wonder if anyone has used Creosote ? I cant seem to find anything suitable on the net.
Creosote is now banned as being cancer forming.
I do know Creosote is banned, I have some old stock and wondered if it would do as a tar wash for my fruit trees, I also have Jayes Fluid, has anyone used that ?.
"Since 30 June 2003 general public can no longer use creosote and coal tar creosote wood preservatives in Great Britain"
http://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/copr/creosote.htm
That includes any 'old stock' you may have.
Last edited: 30 October 2017 19:11:34
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.