LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
My dad was telling me he's heard from someone to spray sugar water on beans? He thinks it will make deer eat them more... like deer need another excuse to eat beans. haha
But as far as helping improve budding and survival I have never heard of that?
But as far as helping improve budding and survival I have never heard of that?
arrrgh11
Member
I am thinking about trying it this weekend. Probably should add a little insecticide to the solution though. I have about 50 out of the 250 bare root oak trees that I planted 2 weeks ago that have not set leaves yet. They have buds, but they are not opening up.
Buddy told me that the sugar provides energy to the buds and encourages them to open up. If they don't open up the tree will starve and die....
Buddy told me that the sugar provides energy to the buds and encourages them to open up. If they don't open up the tree will starve and die....
Nontypcl1
Member
I've heard of people doing this before but not for seedling survival. I know people who have used to on their watermelons and antelope for the purpose of supposedly making them sweeter. They used a molasses based mix and added it to their irrigation water. I really don't buy into molasses or sugar solutions in making their plants much sweeter but there can be some real horticultural benefits from these. However, I honestly doubt that it will make any difference in your seedling survival.
Sugars like molasses can act as chelates. Chelates do help make certain nutrients, particularly micros more available. That as far as I know is the only real benefit from a sugar solution. The main problem with your friends theory is that your seedlings to not have an way of absorbing this solution by spraying. Even if leafed out plants are very inefficient at absorbing nutrients through their leaves and even much more so through the bark or buds. What your oaks need right now is good soil moisture and warm temps to help the buds swell and leaf out. Assuming you planted them correctly and made sure there were not air pockets around the roots then they should leaf out just fine. I would not worry about them not breaking bud yet they are probably still coping from the shock of transplanting.
Sugars like molasses can act as chelates. Chelates do help make certain nutrients, particularly micros more available. That as far as I know is the only real benefit from a sugar solution. The main problem with your friends theory is that your seedlings to not have an way of absorbing this solution by spraying. Even if leafed out plants are very inefficient at absorbing nutrients through their leaves and even much more so through the bark or buds. What your oaks need right now is good soil moisture and warm temps to help the buds swell and leaf out. Assuming you planted them correctly and made sure there were not air pockets around the roots then they should leaf out just fine. I would not worry about them not breaking bud yet they are probably still coping from the shock of transplanting.