When are oak brooms harvested and how are they knitted?

Sauna connoisseurs know how important a well-chosen broom is for a steam room. Everyone has certain preferences and preferences in this regard, but an oak broom is rightfully considered a classic option. There are certain periods when it is better to harvest oak brooms for a bath. You should know about the rules for assembling them, knitting and drying methods.

Branches with oak leaves have been used for bathing procedures since ancient times. This is due to the beneficial properties of oak. Its leaves and branches contain useful substances, essential oils. Their presence helps soothe inflamed skin, heal wounds and cuts, remove excess oiliness, and narrow pores. Thanks to essential oils, an aromatherapy session takes place during the procedure.

You need to prepare brooms at a certain time. If you cut off the branches in time, dry and tie correctly, the bath procedure will add strength and heal the body.

• Tissue regeneration improves, wounds, scratches and abrasions heal quickly.
• Inflammatory processes are eliminated.
• The skin is rejuvenated.
• Nervous tension is relieved. That is why bath procedures are recommended after various stresses and troubles.
• Pain sensations decrease.
• The indications are diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, as well as diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.

Do not forget that there are certain contraindications when choosing this option. These include pregnancy, lactation, and mental illness and cancer. Do not visit the steam room for problems with the heart and blood vessels, for skin lesions, active inflammatory processes.

According to experts, the use of an oak broom has a positive effect on the entire body. Such products have a persistent aroma when heated, they are strong and durable. The disadvantages include only the high price for such products.

The best time to harvest oak branches is mid June. Usually they are cut after the holiday of Trinity. At this time, the branches are no longer too thin. If you cut off very young shoots, then there will be little benefit from them, because they have not yet had time to gain strength. The collection is carried out when the shoots have already filled with life-giving juices and gained full strength. A quality specimen can be obtained by cutting branches in June and July. August and September are also good, but only if the weather is nice and warm. Although the quality of such brooms will be lower.

Many people prefer to store branches in the autumn months, which is not true. In this season, metabolic processes are already slowed down, so the leaves become fragile and not so strong. In different areas, the timing of procurement may vary and end at different times. There is no point in cutting off oak branches after frost: they no longer have useful properties.

To create a bath broom, ordinary oak, Canadian, Caucasian oak are suitable. Most often, these mighty trees grow in deciduous forests. It is better to go to harvest branches away from the city and highways. It is advisable to find a tree with a spreading crown, it is from it that a good high-quality and healing broom for a bath will turn out. It is better not to choose too powerful trees over 10 m high.In this case, younger ones are more suitable, about 3 m. You should choose trees growing in the shade.

It is necessary to carefully examine the leaves on the selected tree.... They should be green with a rich color. They must not be twisted, damaged, or rotted or moldy.

It is necessary to follow the rules of procurement.

• Tear shoots from young trees with small leaves.
• You can not spoil young oaks, otherwise it will lead to their death.
• Branches are cut from one oak once a year. Next year, new shoots will appear at the cut sites.

Usually, oak brooms are harvested in reserve, so you should not limit yourself to just one oak. Many people break branches with their hands, which is not true. It is advisable to stock up on pruning shears and cut off shoots with it. The most durable products are made from trees growing in the highlands.

Many are interested in the question of how to properly tie a broom. This is easy to do if you follow certain rules and carry out the work step by step.

• First of all, you need to remove branches that are numb and on which there are very few leaves. The number of branches when linking is selected individually.
• The manufacture of a bath accessory can be done in different ways. It is made by knitting with a ball or in the form of a shovel. Ball knitting is considered an easier way. To do this, you need to lay the twigs in a circle, doing it evenly. The result is a loose broom with good volume.

You can also assemble a broom in the form of a shovel. In this case, the rods are laid flat on the previously laid branches, slightly pressing them. To make the product denser, the leaves are laid out so that they look with the outside in the middle. Thicker branches should be placed in the middle, and thin shoots should lie on the outside of the broom.

• To make the product more durable, it is advisable to fix it in 2 places.
• At the location of the handle, the leaves are removed by 10–12 cm. The dimensions of the handle must correspond to the hand of the owner of the bath accessory. Usually its size is 3-5 cm. In this case, the broom will be comfortable to hold in your hand and use it. It is better to wrap the edges of the handle with a cloth or medical bandage.

After cutting the branches, they should be carefully laid out in a shaded place in 1 layer. Then the blanks are collected and transported. The branches should not be packed too tightly, otherwise they may overheat on the road and become unusable.

Usually oak brooms withstand several procedures. Proper drying will extend the life of these items. They are dried in well-ventilated rooms without high humidity. Often, steam room lovers specially prepare separate rooms for drying, where oak branches are laid out.

The best place to dry bath accessories is the attic. In the absence of an attic, they can be laid out in the corridor, in a dry basement, as well as hung in the garage, on the balcony or loggia. You can also wrap them in paper and put them in a cardboard box. Consider dry-freezing or vacuum packaging. These products are best obtained after drying under a double roof.

During drying, brooms are not placed close to each other; there should be space between them for air circulation. In the first days, the brooms are turned over 1-2 times a day. A week later, when the leaves are well dry, you can take a bath accessory and go to the steam room.A fresh broom is also good for a steam room, but when soaking it, use warm water, not hot water.

After final drying, the products are stored. Store accessories made of oak branches for a bath in places well protected from the sun's rays. They should not be hung near a radiator, stove or fireplace.

When drying brooms indoors, it is imperative to exclude the presence of an extraneous smell, otherwise it will penetrate the leaves and remain there until the broom is used. If you adhere to the rules of procurement, drying and storage, then such products will be suitable for 2 years. If they are stored incorrectly, then the brooms begin to lose their attractive appearance, turn yellow, and their aroma changes.

You can add spruce, mountain ash or eucalyptus branches to hand-made brooms. Products will become more interesting, while more healing. With a regular visit to the steam room, such a bath accessory can become a more economical option than a purchased option.

Watch the video about the preparation of oak brooms.

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