The longer and warmer days encourage more frequent visits to the garden . It is worth using this time for a spring survey and assessment of the wintering of fruit trees and shrubs. In winter, plants are exposed to the influence of many unfavorable weather factors, including to frost.
Significant temperature drops may cause various parts of the crowns to freeze. Strong frost can be especially dangerous for older trees, which are often infected with diseases and weakened fruiting.
We check whether branches have not been broken under the weight of the snow. If this is the case, cut off the whole broken part with a ball, and lubricate the wound with a wound protection agent.Each cut made during this period is particularly dangerous for trees, because cold weather and frequent rains are conducive to electrocution. various pathogens.
So remember to protect the wounds after each cut.Under the weight of the snow, some branches may also have been bent. If we do not want to remove them, it will be necessary to firmly support or tie the shoots. Frozen bark is a separate problem.
At the end of winter you can see quite well all kinds of cracks in the trunk of larger trees. If the bark does not stick out, it just needs to be smeared with a suitable preparation.The problem should not be underestimated, because water will accumulate in the resulting fissure, which is an excellent substrate for the development of fungal diseases of bark and wood.This is a common disease of stone species.
Therefore it is advisable to look at the entire trunk up to the base of the limbs.In younger trees, we check that they have not been damaged by rodents.Properly fast protection of the resulting wounds is of key importance for the further growth of the plant.
Do not write off a damaged tree right away. It is not uncommon for trees with very heavily eaten bark to heal the wounds on their own and after a few years you do not even see any traces of previous damage.In the case of shrubs, the problem after winter may be excessive overlapping of shoots to the sides.This is usually caused by heavy snow, which bends delicate twigs.
If the shoots are no more than 2-3 years old, tie the bush with string so that the twigs do not lie on the ground. If the shoots are old, cut them close to the ground so that new valuable growths can grow.
