Proper treatment of plums in spring against diseases and pests

Plum

To ensure a good summer plum harvest, the trees need to be thoroughly treated in the spring to prevent diseases and pests. This is especially true if no treatment was taken in the fall. Choosing the right time and method is crucial. Chemical treatments are often used, but traditional remedies are also generally available, depending on the specific situation in your garden.

Goals and objectives

In early spring, in March or early April, before the buds on the trees have opened, perennial fruit and berry crops in orchards are treated for pests and diseases. This measure is necessary to destroy fungal spores, insect eggs, and larvae that overwinter on the trunks and branches.

Mature trees and seedlings planted in the fall need to be protected from emerging pathogens. Their rapid reproduction during the approaching warmer weather must be prevented. Insects also begin to become active. After a long winter of dormancy, hungry larvae pounce on young buds and succulent leaves.

Adult sawflies, codling moths, and their overwintered eggs and caterpillars can destroy numerous swollen buds and newly emerging leaves in a single day. After such an attack, bare plum branches will be unable to grow and develop normally, and next year's harvest may be completely lost.

The soil around plum trees should be fertilized and watered with solutions that help kill and prevent viruses and fungi from growing on the plant's roots. These same solutions will protect the root system from rot.

Peculiarities

The main method of protecting trees in spring is spraying them with pesticides or home remedies. Small trees and saplings can be treated with homemade sprayers or a fine-mesh watering can.

Place a ladder next to the tree, pour the solution into a watering can, and spray the tree from above. For tall plum trees, it's best to use a spray bottle with a long handle. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

Before work begins, mature plum trees are pruned, the trunks are cleared of dried bark, and the soil in the trunk circles is loosened;
treatment with solutions begins from the outer branches, gradually moving to the skeletal branches and trunk;
the water pressure should not be too strong, otherwise the solution will not stay on the branches;
To make the product stick better and last longer on the wood, you need to add a little laundry soap to the water.

When working with aqueous solutions, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment:

special glasses that fit tightly to the face;
respirators or gauze bandages;
rubber gloves;
a hat or scarf (preferably made of polyethylene);
special clothing (overalls or raincoat).

Avoid using these products to avoid chemical burns to the eyes and skin. Chemical solutions can also cause allergic reactions.

Time range

It's impossible to pinpoint the exact dates for plum treatment, as they vary depending on the climate in different regions of the country. In Siberia, this will be mid-April, while in the Moscow region, plums can be sprayed as early as late March. Weather conditions also influence the timing of spraying. To avoid miscalculating the timing, it's best to adhere to these basic guidelines:

Spray the plum for the first time before the buds open and the juices begin to flow;
then - until flowering begins;
if necessary - during flowering, if there are symptoms of disease or insect damage;
repeat - after flowering.

The plant itself will "tell" when it's time to begin treatment. If signs of a disease appear or pests have caused extensive damage, the plant's growth slows, fruit sets fail, and no fruit forms.

Agrochemicals

Chemicals are considered the most effective for treating garden pests and diseases. Ready-made concentrated liquids and powder mixtures are available commercially. There's a wide selection to choose from.

Prophylactin

An insectocaricide for controlling overwintered insects (adults and larvae) is applied in early spring. Spraying plum trees with Profilaktin in March and April suppresses the growth of pest colonies and destroys mites, leaf roller larvae, and aphids. Manufacturers offer a ready-to-use liquid product in 500 ml plastic bottles.

Attention!

Please read the instructions before use. Ensure the solution concentration is maintained and do not exceed the recommended dosage.

Tanrek

This stomach-contact insecticide is available in ampoules and vials. One package is sufficient for treating 5-6 mature trees or 7 seedlings. It effectively kills aphids, whiteflies, codling moths, and flea beetles. There are many alternatives to Tanrek, including Biotlin, Zubr, Imidor, Corado, and Tabu.

The solution affects the pests' nervous system, paralyzing it, causing convulsions and death. The product's effectiveness lasts at least 30 days. Plant protection also occurs in the soil; the substance decomposes only after 50 to 100 days. It is effective against beetles and non-arthropod insects.

Bordeaux mixture

The small blue crystals dissolve readily in water. The solutions are used for spring treatment of gardens against fungi and other pathogens. The main active ingredient, copper sulfate, is harmless to plants.

Preventative spraying of plum trees protects them from damage by: gray and brown rot, powdery mildew, late blight, rubella, scab, leaf curl and leaf spot.

Fitoverm

This product is considered one of the most popular for treating garden and indoor plants from pests: mites, sawflies, leaf rollers, codling moths, whiteflies, thrips, aphids.

The liquid concentrate is sold in ampoules (2, 4, or 5 ml) or vials (10, 30, 50, or 100 ml). Before use, dilute with water according to the instructions.

Within a few hours (6 to 8 hours) of exposure to the solution, insects become paralyzed. The pests die within 2-3 days. The effect of the solution lasts up to 7 days. The first spraying of plum trees is done in early spring. During the growing season, trees should be treated at least three times, with intervals of 2-3 weeks.

Lepidocide

You can treat plums for worms with this effective remedy. As a preventative measure, trees and seedlings are sprayed with a Lepidocide solution in early spring. Repeat treatment will be necessary after fruiting if some berries have been damaged by worms and caterpillars. These voracious pests cause fruit rot and reduce the yield.

The product is available as a powder, a concentrated suspension, and a modified suspension concentrate. Lepidocide is classified as hazard class 4 and is harmless to humans and animals. Its scent repels bees, thereby protecting them from their harmful effects.

The effect on pests lasts 2-3 days. The gnawing insects stop feeding and die.

Copper sulfate

This popular, all-purpose product helps eliminate pests and protects plants from fungi, rot, and mold.

In the spring, before the buds open, plum trees are treated with a copper sulfate solution. This spraying should be done before flowering, before the bees arrive in the garden.

The product is used for preventative treatment of fruit trees in spring and autumn, as well as for fertilizing purposes in case of copper deficiency in the soil.

Folk remedies

Gardeners who disapprove of the use of agrochemicals in their gardens often use solutions prepared according to traditional folk recipes. The components of these preparations are harmless to humans and do not harm the garden or soil environment.

To combat flying pests you can prepare:

Ash-soap solution. Add 1 kg of ash to 10 liters of warm water, let it steep for 2 days, and then add 100 g of laundry or tar soap. Stir and strain the mixture. Spray the plum tree 2-3 times every 2 weeks.
Garlic infusion. Soak 500 g of peeled garlic cloves and a bunch of garlic scapes in 5 liters of water. Let it steep for 2 days, strain, and add another 5 liters of water. Apply to plum trees and seedlings three times during the growing season.
Tobacco tincture. Finely chop 200 g of tobacco leaves, add hot water, and let steep for 24 hours. Spray the plum tree's crown and trunk with the infusion three times.

Reviews

Alexander Makarov, 48 years old, Vologda

I spray my plum trees every spring. As a result, I have a good harvest. The berries are large and tasty, and not a single one has been eaten by codling moths. Last year, I got rid of plum aphids. I simply drove away the ants with a solution made from boric acid. The aphids disappeared along with the ants.

Olga Ivanova, 33 years old, Kostroma

I regularly treat my trees with Bordeaux mixture. The plum, apple, and pear trees are producing well, and there aren't many pests. However, every now and then a "family" of aphids or whiteflies flies over from the neighbors. I immediately begin spraying with a solution of Fitoverm. This stops the insects from multiplying.

Ekaterina Vyazova, 41 years old, Ryazan

Last year, I lost almost my entire plum crop to an infestation of worms and caterpillars. This spring, I treated the plum trees first with Profilaktin, then with Lepidocid. Most of the caterpillars died, but some turned into codling moths. I should have started spraying earlier. I'll try again in the fall to make sure all the worms are gone.

A garden or vegetable patch cannot survive without proper care and protection. People must ensure these conditions to obtain excellent harvests. Effective products are needed to help gardeners. Each person decides for themselves which products to use.