February with hopefully most of the severe winter weather behind us, sees the onset of many jobs in the fruit garden. For me it is the month of pruning as it is easier to identify dead and diseased wood as the sap is starting to rise and feeding where I like to replenish the Potassium reserves for the coming season by giving the trees a dressing of Granulated Sulphate of Potash at around 20 grams per square metre. Surface applied, this fertiliser is just simply scattered where it will be washed in by the spring rains. Tea tree oil has proven anti-inflammatory properties. 'While research into the evidence of tea-tree oil is mixed, in some cases, tea-tree oil is thought to help reduce skin inflammation induced by histamines,' says Kaura. 'As such, tea tree oil is very commonly used in the beauty industry helping to reduce redness and inflammation associated with acneor sore skin after waxing.' 6. Tea tree oil is an antioxidant Researchers in one 2003 study looked at whether tea tree oil could be used as a treatment for oral candidiasis (thrush), with promising results. During the testing in the lab, they found that the oil was effective, and a follow-up test on rats confirmed these results. All products from Australian Bodycare are dermatologically tested, and this of course also applies to Body Wash, which is skin-friendly and suitable for daily washing and cleansing of the skin.

In one 2005 study, participants showed better eradication of bacteria (E.coli) after using a handwash containing 5% tea tree oil and 10% alcohol, or a 5% T solution in water, than from using a simple soap. Almost all new plants will benefit from rootgrow™ but there are a few exceptions: blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers & brassicas. It should be noted that using rootgrow™ on these plants will not harm them - it just won’t work.

Bareroot plants

Thanks to its antibacterial properties, tree oil can form the primary ingredient for hand washing products. 'Tea tree oil works as an antibacterial agent by preventing cellular respiration - the ability to use oxygen for cellular processes - and disrupting cell membrane function,' explains Dr Lee. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has been used as a traditional medicine by Aborigines for centuries to treat a number of common health complaints including acne, dandruff and even as an insect repellent. Thanks to a number of proven health benefits, these days tea tree oil is available all over the world and comes in various forms including tinctures, creams, handwash and soaps. Antihistamines provide relief from sneezing, nasal congestion, and allergies and a recent study has found that topical tea tree oil can reduce histamine-induced skin inflammation. General pruning basics for apple trees– best carried out in late winter early spring before flowering and the spring leaf break. Hands were cleansed with the test solution for 60 seconds and rinsed for 15 seconds.' says Dr Lee. 'The tea tree oil preparation was safe and did not cause skin damage.' 9. Tea tree oil can help treat of MRSA

Treatment should take place between October and December and then again in late March before the growing season begins. For best results apply whilst the prevailing weather conditions are calm and dry. Rate of Use Body Wash is available in 3 different variants. You can choose between the original version with the 100% pure Tea Tree Oil, Tea Tree Oil + Mint and Tea Tree Oil + Lemon Myrtle. The healing benefits of tea trees were not officially registred until 1923. However, the local Aboriginal tribe, Bundjalung, had long understood the protective and healing powers of tea trees and used their crushed leaves to treat various wounds and skin infections. They named the land with tea trees “Healing Ground”. After treatment, insects find it very difficult to secure their eggs onto the washed trees so pests are prevented from taking hold. With a blend of surfactants and natural oils, it removes insect debris, dust and wax which insects use to secure their eggs. Suitable for use on evergreen plants, it removes contaminants from the leaf surface to increase light exposure and encourage photosynthesis.So what you’ll want to, is you want to spray the whole tree, so everything all the way up, but just pay particular attention to the little nooks and crannies in here. So this is where the eggs and all the other bugs will be hiding out. So just start at the bottom and work your way up giving it a good coverage. Later in the season, from mid May onwards Agralan Coddling Moth Traps and Agralan Plum Fruit Moth Traps can be utilised to prevent maggot damage in apple, pear, plum, gage and damson crops.

Growing Success Winter Tree Wash is a totally natural product which works through physical action. It will control most insects and eradicates the bug and the egg, thereby preventing infestation when the growing season begins. You can confidently use Winter Tree Wash on all fruit trees and bushes as well as dormant vines under glass. Some plants may be susceptible to scorch, so we would recommend treating a small area first if you have any doubts as to suitability. When to Use Some users of tea tree oil may experience a skin reaction including irritation, itching and stinging,' warns Kaura. 'Alongside this, in rare cases, people have reported a burning sensation following use. If this occurs, you should stop using the product immediately and seek advice from your pharmacist or GP.'Dandruff occurs when your scalp sheds white skin flakes, often associated with an itchy scalp, and Tea tree oil has been found to be effective in dandruff reduction. Are you looking for a soap that deep cleanses the skin and removes bacteria? Body Wash from Australian Bodycare contains 100% natural and antiseptic Tea Tree Oil. One of the best ways of reducing pest numbers in fruit trees is to apply an Organic Winter Tree Wash during the dormant season i.e. once the leaves are off the trees to reduce overwintering pests and their eggs. This winter wash is a totally natural product made from vegetable oil, which works through physical action i.e. it “dissolves” the eggs of pests such as greenfly, red spider mite etc, preventing an infestation when the growing season begins. Apply to all fruit trees and bushes (top and soft fruit) and to vines under-glass at any time through the winter when the plants are dormant. Suitable for organic growers everywhere. Dilute the product 1 part concentrate to 10 parts water i.e. each bottle of conc. will yield 4.5 litres of spray. Apply with a sprayer. Winter Wash is available in a 1L bottle, which makes makes 20 litres of spray. In one small 2001 study, 18 patients with recurrent genital herpes used either a 6% TTO gel or a placebo on their genital ulcers,' says Dr Lee. 'At the end of the study, ulcers healed faster in the TTO group, being healed at 9 days, compared to 12.5 days in the placebo group.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that originates from the Tea Tree plant- Melaleuca alternifolia – also known as the Paper Bark tree. Mint adds a soothing scent to the product, while the cooling effect of the ingredient brings a suitable value in our problem-solving skin care. Never ingest tea tree oil: swallowing undiluted essential oils can have serious side-effects including burning your mouth, gut lining, and even the digestive tract.Rubbing Alcohol: Soak a cloth or sponge in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the sap-covered area. The alcohol will help dissolve the sap, making it easier to remove. Once the sap is gone, wash and rinse the area thoroughly. Removes insect debris, dust and wax which insects can use to secure their eggs onto the plant or tree Once you’ve finished scrubbing the tree, rinse it with clean water, ensuring all excess debris has been removed from the base of the tree. For the daily washing of the intimate area, we recommend Intim Wash, which is pH balanced for intimate areas.