How to treat soil, trees, and a greenhouse with copper sulfate in the fall: processing features, composition, and properties

If there is significant precipitation during the warm period of the year, it is necessary to begin combating various diseases in advance. This is necessary because late blight, powdery mildew, scab, and other diseases may appear in the garden the following year. Dampness permeates everything, bringing with it fungal spores and other infectious diseases. These spread throughout the beds, garden, and greenhouses. Plant growers must eliminate these infestations. copper sulfate is used (CuSO₄·5H₂O). This powerful fungicide helps control harmful insects.

Why treat the soil with copper sulfate in the fall?

To prevent the spread of infectious disease pathogens in vegetable gardens, orchards, and greenhouses, copper sulfate is used in small quantities. It has the following effects:

1. The vegetation develops some protection against diseases.
2. Fungal spores are eliminated, and with the concomitant use of binding components - a solution of laundry soap - copper sulfate remains on the leaves and shoots, preventing fungi from attaching to them.
3. When treating the soil with copper sulfate, the soil properties improve, and plants, provided copper is added micro-additively, absorb nutrients better.
4. Plants that have been treated with copper sulfate in the fall survive the winter season more easily.

However, the constant use of copper sulfate during autumn treatments is prohibited. This compound tends to accumulate and can have the opposite effect:

1. Significant concentrations of copper in the soil lead to disruption of the interaction of a number of macro- and microelements.
2. The soil's permeability to air is impaired and the amount of nitrogen absorbed from the environment decreases.
3. Copper sulfate in excess concentrations in the soil slows down the spread of phosphorus preparations used to fertilize the area.
4. In the upper soil layer, microflora activity is suppressed—aerobic microorganisms become less efficient at digesting organic matter. Rotting slows down.
5. Iron oxide is virtually not available to vegetation due to its replacement by copper.

Benefits of autumn use

In the fall, treatment is carried out for preventative purposes. The time for this procedure is chosen after the leaves have completely fallen from the trees. The area should already be completely cleared and prepared for the winter season.

Spraying fallen leaves causes the copper sulfate solution to act on the fungal spores present and completely destroy them.

Treating your garden or vegetable patch with copper sulfate in the fall also has other benefits. During the cold season, insects hide in tree bark and soil near plant roots.

To ensure a complete prevention of pest attacks on garden crops next year, the following areas should be treated with copper sulfate solutions:

• priming;
• plant shoots;
• cracks and crevices in the bark.

Treating the area with copper sulfate eliminates individual pests. It also destroys pest colonies in areas where they gather to prepare for hibernation.

Properties and composition

Copper sulfate is an inexpensive product available in hardware stores and garden supply stores. It comes in the form of blue or deep blue crystals.

When heated, the crystalline substance evaporates, turning a lighter shade. With prolonged heating, the substance takes on a dull gray color. Copper sulfate is considered non-flammable, but it can explode in certain situations.

The properties of crystallized copper sulfate are as follows:

• the substance quickly dissolves in liquid;
• quickly absorbs water – significant hygroscopicity;
• soluble in alcohol and hydrochloric acid.

Copper sulfate is a highly toxic substance, and its handling requires extreme caution and strict adherence to safety regulations.

Concentrations

Copper sulfate is used in plant growing in the form of solutions. Often, several liquid preparations are mixed. The main difference from copper sulfate solutions is the proportion of crystalline substance in water.

Fertilizer composition

Concentrations of 2 to 3% are used for fertilizing and soil amendments. Gardeners and vegetable growers often achieve this copper sulfate content by adding 20-30 grams of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water.

In addition to the above, this composition is used as a preventative measure and as an accompanying restoration of the copper balance in the soil of a private plot.

Medicinal

To prepare a medicinal copper sulfate solution, growers dissolve approximately 5-10 g of the crystalline substance in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution contains 0.5 to 1.0% copper sulfate.

This concentration of copper sulfate solution is used when it is necessary to initiate the healing process of plant wounds after autumn pruning.

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Burning

The concentration of the burning solution ranges from 4 to 6% copper sulfate. This concentration is achieved by adding 40 to 60 grams of the crystalline substance to water. This solution is used to treat garden beds, soil, and tree trunks.

Experienced gardeners and vegetable growers recommend avoiding areas treated with a strong 4-6% copper sulfate solution for one year. However, this is not necessary—excess copper sulfate migrates to the lower soil layers before active gardening begins.

Preparation

Copper sulfate is the base for Burgundy and Bordeaux mixtures. These solutions are available pre-mixed at gardening stores, but most gardeners prefer to mix their own fungicidal mixtures.

Burgundian composition

To make Burgundy composition you need to use the following components:

• copper sulfate;
• soda ash;
• laundry soap;
• water.

In a separate container, first dissolve 100 g of copper sulfate in 5 liters of warm water. In another container, dissolve 90 g of washing soda and 40 g of laundry soap in 5 liters of hot water. Then carefully pour the solution with the copper sulfate into the container with the laundry soap and washing soda. The resulting mixture will take on a greenish tint. After straining, use it to treat soil and vegetation.

Burgundy infusion is often used to treat gooseberries and currants. This mixture produces the following effects:

1. The destruction of spores of pathogenic fungi and other infectious agents occurs.
2. The calcium it contains enriches the soil and is a good support for the active development of plants in the following season.
3. The mixture does not stay on the leaves for long and is not as sticky as Bordeaux mixture.

This composition is not recommended for frequent use due to the presence of copper sulfate. Copper sulfate, when applied too frequently, can cause burns to plants.

Bordeaux composition

To prepare a fungicidal solution, you need to mix the following components:

• copper sulfate;
• lime;
• water.

There are several concentration options, depending on the intended use. A 3% copper sulfate solution is used for early treatment of vegetation and consists of the following components:

• copper sulfate – 300 g;
• lime – 400 g;
• water – 10 l.

A gentle option for spraying is a 1% Bordeaux mixture, which consists of the following components:

• copper sulfate – 100 g;
• lime – 100 g;
• water – 10 l.

The key components are diluted in separate containers. Warm water is used, but the temperature should not exceed 50°C. First, dissolve the powder in a small amount of water, then slowly add the remainder, bringing the total volume to 9 liters. In another container, dilute the lime with 1 liter of water, and then separate the solids by straining through cheesecloth.

Before use, ensure the copper sulfate mixture has cooled. Once cooled, carefully pour the copper sulfate solution into the lime container. The mixture should turn a bluish color. Use the Bordeaux mixture immediately after preparation. It helps prevent and eliminate the following:

• rust pathogens;
• late blight;
• scabies and other things.

Winegrowers often use Bordeaux mixture because it does not burn plants and destroys harmful insects and their larvae.

Nuances of the process

Regardless of the purpose of spraying copper sulfate in the fall, a precise algorithm and every rule must be followed when diluting it. This guarantees the safety of the work performed. The basic rules of the process are as follows:

1. The solution must not be prepared in iron utensils, the only exception being enamel containers.
2. The mixtures are diluted immediately before use, as it is not advisable to store the prepared mixture.
3. To quickly dissolve copper sulfate, use warm water up to 50 ̊С.
4. The finished solution must be filtered, as it often contains insoluble sediment.
5. During preparation and use of mixtures, personal protective equipment is required - a mask, glasses and gloves.

Soil treatment with copper sulfate and spraying of vegetation should not be performed in wet weather. These treatments should also not be performed when the air temperature is above 30°C or during strong winds. This is because less of the active ingredient settles on the vegetation, and the sprayed area is significantly expanded (some crops do not require spraying).

Soil cultivation in autumn

Spores and individual mycelial fragments of harmful fungi overwinter in the soil. Such pathogens include the following species:

• fusarium;
• Verticillium wilt;
• late blight;
• various types of rot;
• rust;
• spotting;
• scab and others.

To prevent these diseases from infecting garden and horticultural crops, plots are treated with copper sulfate in the fall. This solution not only protects crops from infectious diseases but also provides some resistance to harmful insects. Copper sulfate solutions also have a limited effect on rodents.

Copper sulfate is also used as a micronutrient fertilizer. When present in the soil in the required amounts, copper has a positive effect on the chemical composition and flavor of fruits.

Copper sulfate is especially important for treating alkaline soils. Since copper sulfate is an acidic salt, it increases the soil's acidity.

Copper has a drawback: it accumulates in soil, vegetation, and water. Excessive concentrations of this metal cause plants to suffer from iron deficiency, which leads to stunted growth and leaf and fruit drop.

A copper sulfate-based solution for soil treatment is prepared in two stages. First, 100 g of copper sulfate is diluted in 3-5 liters of warm water, then liquid is added to the solution, bringing the total volume to 10 liters.

The area is treated with the mixture as follows:

1. Remove all remaining annual vegetation from the treatment area.
2. The area is dug up, the remains of weed rhizomes are removed, and the clods of earth are broken up as finely as possible.
3. The solution is poured from a watering can onto the ground at a rate of 2 liters per 1 m2.

To enrich the soil with copper, use a 0.1% solution of copper sulfate, that is, 100 g of copper sulfate per 100 liters of water.

Tree processing

Spraying trees serves as both a preventative and curative measure. It's important to remember that applying fertilizer is only possible in the absence of precipitation, as the solution is easily washed away, and the effectiveness of treatment is minimal on a rainy day.

Copper sulfate is used to treat stone and pome fruit crops. Spraying a copper sulfate-based mixture is also acceptable for plants such as:

• raspberry;
• roses;
• gooseberry;
• currant;
• strawberry.

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When treating trees and shrubs, the mixture should be applied to the soil beneath them and to the foliage (when leaf litter removal is not planned). Treatment should be performed once every 3-4 years, using a mixture of 50-100 g per 10 liters. A similar concentration is required when spraying crops such as:

• plum;
• apricot;
• quince;
• cherry;
• apple;
• cherries;
• pear.

This mixture helps to get rid of the following plant diseases:

• various types of rot;
• fungal diseases;
• scab;
• anthracnose;
• lichens.

The drug is less effective when used against harmful insects.

Greenhouse treatment

In the fall, greenhouses are treated with copper sulfate-based solutions. The greenhouse is washed with water-soluble laundry soap. For the soap solution, dilute 20 g of soap in 1 liter of water. A bleach solution containing 300-400 g of lime per 10 liters of water is added to the greenhouse soil. Apply 1 liter of the mixture per 1 m².

The next treatment involves the use of copper sulfate. The mixture is prepared in the following proportions: 50-60 g of the crystalline substance is diluted in 10 liters of water. The consumption rate is 0.5 l/m2. After treatment, the greenhouse must be wet-cleaned again.

The greenhouse soil treated with the product is dug over. Sometimes 40% formalin is added—100 ml diluted in 10 liters of water. If the greenhouse is heavily infested with pathogens, the application rate can reach 20 liters per square meter.

Copper sulfate for parasites

Copper sulfate is a time-tested insect repellent. Copper sulfate is a fairly powerful fungicide, but it can also kill parasites:

• codling moth;
• scale insect;
• aphids;
• leaf weevil.

To combat pests, various concentrations of copper sulfate-based solutions are used. The percentage of copper sulfate in the solution is determined based on the expected number of pests in the area.

Consequences of processing

To prevent copper sulfate burns on vegetation, it is often used in combination with slaked lime, that is, to prepare Bordeaux mixture.

Overuse of copper sulfate-based products leads to the following consequences:

• reduction in the quality characteristics of soil air exchange;
• increase in nitrous oxide emissions;
• reduction in the intensity of nitrogen exchange processes in the soil;
• growth of harmful organic matter.

Failure to follow the instructions for using copper sulfate-based products can result in copper accumulation in the soil, leading to the degradation of beneficial microelements and essential microflora.

Safe to use

The concentration of copper sulfate or copper sulfate-based products must be strictly adhered to the instructions. The frequency and frequency of application depend on the soil characteristics and other disinfection options. Failure to follow instructions and safety precautions negatively impacts the health of vegetation and soil quality and may cause harm to human health.

Adverse effects on human health occur when soil is handled without personal protective equipment. Copper sulfate particles enter the human body through inhalation, that is, through the respiratory system. This substance also enters the body through the skin.

Copper sulfate intoxication produces the following symptoms:

• redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• rashes;
• sudden nasal congestion;
• sneezing and coughing;
• muscle weakness;
• chills.

To prevent poisoning when working with copper sulfate-based products, follow these safety precautions:

1. During soil treatment, make sure that there are no animals or children nearby.
2. When handling solutions containing this substance, always use personal protective equipment that completely covers the skin and mucous membranes – a protective suit, respirator, safety glasses, gloves, etc.
3. The treatment is carried out on a windless day when the outside air temperature fluctuates between 5-20 ̊С.
4. After completing the work, wash your hands thoroughly and rinse your mouth.
5. It is prohibited to discharge the remainder of the mixture into water bodies.
6. The soil cannot be processed during the flowering period of plants.

If copper sulfate solutions come into contact with the skin, immediately wash the affected areas of skin and mucous membranes with plenty of running water.

Reviews

Gardeners and vegetable growers have been using copper sulfate-based products for decades. These products are effective, as evidenced by the numerous positive reviews from growers.

Olga Vasilievna, 49 years old, Krasnodar region

I whitewash the trees twice a year – before the leaves emerge and in November. I use Bordeaux mixture. I try to whitewash as much of the trunk as I can reach. I harvest the trees annually and they're quite abundant.

Fedor, 39, Ivanovo

I prepare a solution: 100 g of copper sulfate, 10 liters of water, and 0.7 kg of urea. I mix it all together and apply it to the branches of trees and shrubs, as well as to the soil in the garden. This mixture nourishes, enriches the soil, and kills all diseases and pests.

Valentina, 52, Pyatigorsk

I mainly use the Burgundy mixture. To avoid any harm, I periodically replace the copper with iron And back again. I also whitewash with Bordeaux mixture and every year I have a harvest that will make my neighbors envious.

Victor, 59, Nevinnomyssk

I used to use Nitrofen, but now I prefer Bordeaux mixture. It's just as effective, and ultimately costs less.

There's no consensus on the most effective copper sulfate-based treatment for garden crops and soil. Each grower has their own secrets to high yields and a personalized plan for preventative and curative treatments.

Conclusion

Copper sulfate is a proven remedy for maintaining the health of garden and vegetable crops. With judicious application of copper sulfate-based compounds in the fall, plants will be maximally protected from diseases and pests the following year, and growers will reap a bountiful harvest.