A gardener sprays trees in the fall with iron sulfate (ferrous sulfate) for preventative and therapeutic purposes. The product is available as small crystals or a green powder. It can be purchased at a hardware store. The nominal package size is 250 g. Grade I ferrous sulfate is suitable for spraying. Its sulfate content is 53%.
Areas of application
The product is used in the garden in the fall to treat and prevent diseases. The green crystals or powder dissolve quickly in water. The resulting solution is used immediately after preparation, otherwise the concentration of the active ingredient decreases. Botanists recommend spraying green spaces 1-3 times to address the following issues:
- whitewashing of the trunk;
- spot removal;
- prevention of pests;
- prevention of grape diseases;
- adding missing iron to the soil;
- treatment of diseases: scab, powdery mildew, anthracnose, gray rot, etc.;
- elimination of mechanical damage;
- restoration of bark on old trees;
- eliminating fungus in a greenhouse or at home;
- getting rid of fungus in vegetable storage conditions.
Treatment is carried out after the leaves have fallen or have not yet emerged. Iron sulfate is a highly acidic substance. During treatment, care must be taken to avoid any contact with the leaves.
Pros and cons
Gardeners use ferrous sulfate to treat their greenery in the spring and fall for several reasons. First, it's inexpensive. Second, it offers numerous advantages.
| Advantages | Flaws |
| Wide range of applications. | Apply only when there are no leaves on the tree. |
| Almost all crops are processed. | Almost useless in insect control. |
| It acts only on the external elements of the plant. | Even a light rain will wash it off the branches. |
| Does not penetrate inside. | After treatment, at least 24 hours must pass for the drug to take effect. |
| Destroys almost all fungal infections. | |
| Minimum level of toxicity. |
The main drawback is that any remaining solution must be discarded immediately after use. After a few hours, the mixture loses its preventative and therapeutic properties.
Rules for preparing the solution
For this purpose, use enamel, plastic, or glass containers. Other options are unacceptable. The second rule: before spraying garden trees, inspect the bag of ferrous sulfate. The ferrous sulfate crystals should not stick together. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the treatment will be reduced. The concentration level is selected based on the end use.
|
Target |
Solution concentration level (%) |
Dosage (g/ 10 l of water) |
| Surface treatment of tree bark to remove lichen and moss | 3 | 30 |
| Insect control | 5 | 50 |
| Disinfection of cracks and other mechanical damage | 10 | 100 |
| Whitewashing old trees | 10 | 100 |
| Preventive treatment of young trees | 3 | 20 |
| Processing stone fruit trees, such as peaches and cherries | 3 | 30 |
| Processing of pome fruit trees (pear, apple) | 5 | 40 |
| Treatment of lichen and rot (carried out in the fall) | 3 | 30 |
| Prevention of lichen and rot (carried out in the fall) | 1 | 20 |
| Fertilizing (spring, autumn) | 3 | 50 |
| Delayed bud break due to a sharp drop in temperature | 6 | 10 |
Gardeners adhere to the recommended dosage when using copper sulfate. Even a slight excess will negatively impact greenery.
Dosage
Choosing the correct dosage of ferrous sulfate will help minimize the risk of error. The first rule is to know that 1 tablespoon contains 15-16 grams, and 1 teaspoon contains 5 grams. The second rule is to measure the required volume of the preparation only with a plastic spoon. This material does not react with ferrous sulfate.
| Active ingredient concentration level (%) | Required volume |
| 0.5 | 50 g |
| 1 | 100 g |
| 3 | 300 g |
| 5 | 500 g |
| 10 | 1 kg |
| 15 | 1.5 kg |
A solution stronger than 1% is used only after the end of the growing season. Here, it's important to consider two opposing botanist views. A dilute solution reduces the risk of tree damage, but doesn't guarantee 100% results. The weaker the mixture, the greater the chance of pathogenic flora. Another approach is to use a solution 10% stronger than necessary. A "golden mean" hasn't yet been found. The only recommendation is to rely on the severity of symptoms.
Use of funds as fertilizers
Gardeners use not only ferrous sulfate but also iron chelate for preventative treatment of their trees in the garden. This fertilizer is used to treat and prevent non-infectious chlorosis. Its effectiveness is due to the fertilizer's high content of divalent iron, which is easier for plant cells to absorb. The dosage and preparation recipe are as follows:
- 2 liters of water;
- 5 g citric acid;
- mix the 2 listed components in a separate container;
- pour 2 liters of warm water into a separate container;
- add 8 g of ferrous sulfate there;
- mix thoroughly;
- The liquid with dissolved copper sulfate is mixed with water in which citric acid is dissolved.
The final step is to dilute the resulting solution with 1 liter of clean water. The gardener will receive 5 liters of fertilizer with an active ingredient concentration of 0.5%.
Observing precautions
Gardeners wear protective goggles and a suit before spraying trees with iron sulfate in the spring and fall. Other safety precautions are as follows:
- the treatment is carried out using rubber gloves;
- It is forbidden to mix copper sulfate with lime;
- If the solution gets on the skin, rinse the area thoroughly with water;
- the substance is stored away from kitchen utensils;
- Immediately before the onset of cold weather, copper sulfate is used for disinfection.
Store dry crystals or powder in a dark place away from moisture.
Compatibility with other substances
Do not combine ferrous sulfate with substances containing lime or alkali. Otherwise, a neutralization reaction will occur. Another rule: do not mix ferrous sulfate with fungicides.
Rules for processing green spaces
Processing of decorative, stone fruits and fruit trees carried out taking into account the recommended concentration level.
| Scope of application | Concentration | Recommendations |
| Ensuring winter hardiness | 1% | The base and trunk are treated with a brush soaked in the preparation. |
| Boosting immunity | 3% | The treatment is carried out before the beginning of the growing season. |
| Treatment of fungal diseases | 2% | Take 30 g of urea, 50 g of ferrous sulfate, 20 g of slaked lime, and 10 liters of clean water. Mix everything together. Spray the trees before the first leaves appear. |
| Organization of seasonal protection | 0.5-1% | The first spraying is done in late spring. Subsequently, the interval is maintained at once every 13 days. The last spraying is in mid-June. |
| Fertilization | 0.5% | Gardeners use ferrous sulfate to treat trees and soil in spring and fall when iron deficiency occurs. For treatment, apply the solution three times a week for 45 days. For prevention, apply it once every 10 days for one month. The dosage is 2 teaspoons per bucket of water. |
| In everyday life (early autumn) | 1-6% | The substance is applied to the surface using a brush or sprayer. The room is ventilated for the next 12 hours. |
| 15% | Two to three sprays will help eliminate fungus in a greenhouse. These should be done at the beginning and middle of the growing season. |
You may be interested in:Punctuality is the key to success
There are no universal timings for spraying. Gardeners base their decisions on the region's climate. Residents of temperate climates should spray two weeks before the onset of cold weather. The second requirement is to wait until all the leaves have fallen. In southern regions, there are no restrictions. In the fall, preventative treatment is performed at the end of November, and in the spring, after temperatures stabilize.
Reviews
Antonina
I treat pome crops with a higher dose. I use a 5% solution of ferrous sulfate. I add 600 g of the solution to a bucket containing about 10 liters of water. I stir it thoroughly. I pour the mixture into a spray bottle. I carefully spray the trunk. I brush the branches. By treating trees with ferrous sulfate in the fall, I protect the garden from diseases and pests.
Dmitry
In the southern region, spraying is done in mid-November. The time when the leaves have fallen is ideal for treatment and disease prevention. If the tree is old, carefully remove any lichen before spraying. A soft toothbrush is helpful.
Vladimir
I treat the trees in my plot before winter. I prefer whitewashing. I carefully brush it over the trunk and branches. I work carefully to avoid dripping onto the leaves. Another precaution is to apply iron sulfate-based fertilizer to the tree trunks. After two treatments in early September and mid-October, I don't have to worry about pest infestations or diseases.
Ferrous sulfate is a substance sold in hardware stores. Each package contains up to 250 grams of crystals or powder. It is diluted with water, strictly adhering to the recommended concentration. Exceeding this concentration will burn the tree. Secondly, avoid allowing the solution to come into contact with skin or leaves. The solution is prepared immediately before use and then discarded. After a few hours, the mixture loses its effectiveness.
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Irina
The article is pointless. It's a hodgepodge of information from the internet. It says you can't mix ferrous sulfate with lime, and then gives a recipe for spraying against fungal infections: 30g urea, 50g ferrous sulfate, 20g lime per 10 liters of water. And most importantly, it states that it's a 2% solution.