How to use garden pitch to treat trees when pruning

Any damage to trees requires not only immediate disinfection but also subsequent protection against viruses and fungal spores. Garden varnish, designed for treating various plants, is typically used for this purpose. This environmentally friendly product can be purchased at the store or made at home.

General characteristics

Garden varnish is a paste used for first aid on trees and shrubs. Treatment with this product disinfects cut or damaged area, prevents the entry of fungal spores and the leakage of sap. Garden pitch is used to treat damage and for scheduled pruning.

Disinfecting plant wounds is a complex process with numerous biological properties. A brew made from natural ingredients stimulates the healing of wounds of any depth and complexity.

Composition of the product

Garden varnish, like other disinfectants, is sold in specialty stores, but homemade putty is considered the most effective. All the ingredients included in the recipe are readily available to every gardener, namely:

• beeswax;
• animal and vegetable oils;
• drying oil;
• alcohol;
• antifreeze;
• rosin;
• paraffin.

Garden pitch can be cold-resistant, melting under high temperatures, or liquid.

Advantages and disadvantages

Garden pitch not only protects the wound from moisture penetration but also prevents its evaporation from within. However, along with its advantages, this remedy also has several disadvantages.

Rules of application

Treatment with garden pitch is necessary after every pruning, regardless of the reason or timing. When applied to the wound, the product promotes rapid recovery of trees and shrubs, allowing them to focus their energy directly on fruiting rather than on recuperating from the resulting wound. There are several principles for using this putty.

Before using the drug, you should familiarize yourself with some features:

• Only living areas of wood should be treated; damaged, dry and diseased fragments must be removed;
• cuts and wounds should be smooth; uneven areas and growths can be removed using sandpaper;
• Before treatment, the wound must be washed with clean, warm water, and the instruments used must be disinfected;
• the right time for treatment is spring or summer, as a rule, the layer is renewed throughout the season;
• When sealing hollows, preliminary treatment with alcohol or copper sulfate.

Instructions for using garden var:

1. Heat the mixture to 40°C. To do this, place the jar containing the mixture in hot water for several minutes.
2. Apply the product to the damaged wood with gloves and a special tool (spoon or spatula). Despite the natural nature of the varnish, some of its components may cause an allergic reaction or burn.
3. Using a tool, apply the compound to the damaged area, spreading it into an even layer (approximately 2 mm thick). Applying a thicker layer will cause the compound to crack and allow moisture to pass through.
4. Before treatment, be sure to clean out all cracks, frost cracks and old wounds on the bark, and then disinfect with copper sulfate.
5. After finishing the work, wrap the treated area with a suitable material, such as rags or matting.

Experienced gardeners recommend heat-treating the garden varnish immediately after application to improve its adhesion to the surface. The heated mixture will be absorbed into the wood, filling all imperfections and cracks. The baked-on top layer of the varnish will create a reliable protective barrier. Heat treatment can be performed using a heat gun, a gasoline or gas torch, or a heat gun. This procedure must be performed with extreme caution to avoid harming the plant.

Features of aerosol garden var

Today, manufacturers offer a cutting-edge plant treatment product, available in aerosol form. This formulation not only significantly speeds up the treatment process but also makes it as sterile as possible. Since the product has only recently been available, it hasn't yet received a significant number of reviews. However, several advantages of its use are already evident:

• excellent adhesion to wood surfaces;
• ability to fill even microscopic gaps and cracks;
• acquisition of a solid film state after drying, creating excellent protection for the treated wound;
• ease of use: when treating large surfaces with aerosol garden pitch, the use of additional dressings is not required.

The disadvantages of an aerosol product are as follows:

• relatively high cost for small capacity;
• content of chemicals and preservatives;
• flammability.

Using garden pitch when grafting

Healing putty is essential for treating wounds when grafting garden crops. After the procedure, apply the preparation to the damaged area and wrap it with tape. Garden pitch is ideal for the following grafting methods: budding, behind the bark, ablactation.

Rules for preparing garden varnish yourself

The medicinal composition does not necessarily need to be purchased from the store, as it is easily prepared at home. There are many various recipes for creating garden varnish, allowing you to select the most suitable option for a specific situation and weather conditions.

Paraffin based

Based on nigrol

With the addition of drying oil

Based on beeswax

The beeswax recipe can be varied by combining it with propolis, lard, unsalted fat, and turpentine. The mixture can be cooled in cold water, and once it has curdled, it can be shaped. Garden varnish prepared this way is recommended to be stored in oiled paper and used only on warm days.

With the addition of propolis

Possible alternative to garden varnish

Pruning trees and shrubs is an important procedure that requires utmost care. Neglecting to properly treat cuts can result in the death of the crop. If you don't have garden pitch on hand, you can use one of the following options:

• oil paint - during application it is simply used to cover damaged areas or fresh cuts;
• natural drying oil - applied to a slightly dried cut (can be in several layers), unlike var, drying oil does not melt on hot days;
• clay - mixed with hay and mullein, and after obtaining the consistency of the dough, it is used to treat wounds;
• wet earth - slightly moistened with water, applied to the affected area, then wrapped in cloth and secured;
• bovine manure;
• a regular cellophane bandage.

In some cases, ordinary children's play dough or glue stick are used to treat wounds, applying a thin layer to the wood surface. This prevents bacteria and moisture from penetrating the wound.

Paints prepared with oils such as camelina, hemp or mineral oil are considered an ideal replacement for garden pitch.

Replacing garden pitch during grafting

When grafting, the following agents can be used as an alternative to garden pitch:

1. A mixture made from melted wax and vegetable oil. Even wax from a melted candle can be used for this purpose.
2. A putty made from clay mixed with resin, mullein, and water. Before treating trees, the clay mixture is thoroughly kneaded.
3. A paraffin-based composition diluted with natural drying oil and rosin. All components are melted together to seal the wounds.
4. Chatterbox from mullein, water, and clay, brought to the consistency of sour cream. Before applying this putty, the wound is treated with copper sulfate.

Tips and recommendations

Hardened garden pitch can be softened in several ways:

• knead in hands;
• leave in a warm place for a while;
• resort to the help of a water bath.

The oil and wax contained in the product prevent it from being washed off quickly. It's best to remove the product that has cracked at low temperatures using a rubber spatula.

When treating garden crops, wear gloves. However, if the varnish does get on your hands, you can remove it with gasoline or white spirit, then rinse with room-temperature water. In this case, it is not recommended to use highly concentrated solutions.

Garden varnish is reliable An environmentally friendly and safe solution for treating damaged plants. There are many different ways to prepare this product, so buying ready-made versions from the store doesn't make sense.