At the end of May – beginning of June, the caterpillars begin to search en masse for places where they could turn into pupae. If you do nothing, then soon the insects will climb deep into the bark or into the top layer of soil, and within 2 weeks you will experience an invasion of moth butterflies. But there are simple ways to protect your apple tree from these pests – the author of the Zen channel “Volga Garden” shared them.
How to wrap an apple tree
The expert suggests using fishing belts made of burlap or thick corrugated cardboard. The width of the belt is 25 cm, the height for attaching to the trunk is 50 cm from the surface of the ground. Pull the top edge tightly, and then the pest will definitely not crawl through.
However, larvae will regularly accumulate on the burlap itself, so inspect the hunting belts more often and remove stuck “guests”.
How to mulch a tree
The tree trunk circle needs to be mulched with a dense layer of organic matter, and then the caterpillars will not be able to find a place to pupate. The most suitable options are mowed grass (strictly weed-free), straw and sawdust. However, sawdust pulls nitrogen out of the soil, so apply a nitrogen fertilizer when using it.
About the benefits of crown thinning
Dryness and drafts are disastrous conditions for the codling moth. She feels best in the dense crown, where it is humid, dark and stuffy. Therefore, feel free to remove all unnecessary shoots. The crown must be well ventilated, and then the survival rate of oviposition will decrease by 2 times – the shell of the eggs will dry out, and the caterpillars simply will not have time to emerge.
