When to harvest birch trees. Bath brooms - when to cut and how to knit? When to stock up on oak brooms

Connoisseurs of sauna paradise know how important a good broom is in a steam room. Everyone has their own preferences in this regard, but birch products are considered classics - fragrant, soft and healing.

Flexible branches and the velvet surface of the leaves, which adhere remarkably to a hot body, allow you to steam with comfort. The structure of birch leaf, characterized by a large number of pores, is ideal for absorbing sweat. Neither oak nor eucalyptus have this effect.

The fragrance emanating from a birch broom pleases the heart and heals the body. The bark and leaves of this tree contain aromatic balsamic oils that are destructive to microbes. The leaves and twigs also contain a lot of vitamins, resins and tannins.

For asthmatics and those suffering from other respiratory diseases, a bathhouse with a birch broom has a healing and beneficial effect. It is also useful for allergy sufferers, as well as those who have nerves. Smokers also feel relief. If your back hurts from rheumatism, your muscles hurt after overexertion, or your joints are twisted, the recipe is still the same.

Preparation time: don't rush and don't be late

First, we have to find suitable raw materials, going for it in dry and clear weather, waiting for the dew to dry.

We collect raw materials at the beginning of summer (no later than mid-summer). Ancient beliefs claim that the best brooms come from those branches that are collected on Trinity Sunday. However, it is permissible to deviate a little from the canons.

The main thing is that the leaf is already strong, but not yet rough. From mid-July, the trees are already preparing for autumn, and the broom season ends. And if it rains on the chosen day, you should postpone your trip until the weather is sunny. You cannot cut branches when they are wet - they will later turn black and smell unpleasant. They say that the broom “burned out.”

To check if a birch tree is ready for brooms, lick the outside of its leaf, tearing it off the branch. It should be soft velvety, as if slightly covered with light fluff. If its surface is rough and hard, it means it’s too late. Such a broom will scratch.

And you shouldn’t prepare it too early either - the too young leaves still hold on to the branches weakly, so they will fall off while drying. And the finished broom will become unpleasantly slippery and will not last long.

How and when to cut? We collect twigs carefully and in the right place

Having decided on the right moment, we set off to mine. Preferably in a low area, where it is humid and shady. For example, near a river or lake. It is in such places that birch trees grow - curly and weeping. Their rods are considered the best for brooms.

We choose young trees that have never bloomed before. It’s also good to take note of stumps and shoots. However, let's not be barbarians! In order not to destroy the birch trees, we do not expose them completely. We take thinner side branches (without earrings) - from those that grow low. They should be fairly straight, between 50 and 60 centimeters long. We use pruning shears for pruning.

How to knit a birch broom correctly

Let's wither the branches for a day in the shade - now you can knit. Just don’t wash them - we’ll ruin the product. We remember that each broom should have two or three branches with forks - this makes it stronger. Where the handle will be, cut off all the knots.

We place thicker branches in the middle of the structure, thinner ones along the edges, bending them so that the final shape is a fan. This bend looks inward. All branches should be rich in leaves and have the same length. Some fans, in addition to birch twigs, put fragrant currant or mint leaves in the middle of the product.

We tightly intercept the ends of the rods with twine, constructing a handle no thicker than five centimeters. We make the first winding closer to the end of the handle, not very tightly. Then we divide the rods into two parts and twist them a full turn. After this, we secure the twine in several more places.

Never tie a broom with wire - you will get scratched later in the steam room. It is best to take nylon thread. You should not knit tightly - otherwise the finished product will not be able to dry well.

Leave the handle about fifteen centimeters long - this is optimal. When it is ready, the protruding edges of the branches are cut off with a hatchet, and the end is wrapped with something soft (so as not to rub the calluses later).

Secrets of making brooms in the video advice section from Doki:

How to dry?

For the first two or three days we will hold the broom under some kind of pressure, not forgetting to turn it over after a while. Then we start drying - in the shade, in a small draft, turning it over again daily. The sun is destructive for our purpose - its rays will instantly curl the leaves, making them fragile.

It will take about a week to dry. We determine readiness by the fragility of the leaves. After this, we tie several brooms tightly - two pieces together.

How to store - choose the right place

It’s easiest for villagers - the ideal place to store our products would be a haystack. They are placed there with the handles outward and the leaves inward, placed in a circle and sprinkled with hay on each layer. There is no haystack - a good option would be an attic or a dressing room.

For those who live in the city, we can recommend a glass balcony or loggia for storage. Large cardboard boxes or paper bags would be excellent containers. You can also take the brooms to the garage. In general, any place where it’s cool and has air flowing will do.

To ensure that the leaves on the branches of the broom remain green for a long time and are stored for at least two years, they can be sprinkled with coarse salt crystals.

Fans of technological progress use vacuum packaging. And the Finns actually came up with an interesting way - freezing brooms. Such products, created using shock-type freezing, are offered in some baths.

A knitted lush broom, in principle, can be used even immediately. But in this case it cannot be kept in boiling water - it will cook. Twenty minutes in cold water will be enough. Then pour warm water over it and steam – enough for several times. If the broom has gone through all the stages of drying, then it will already withstand boiling water.

How to steam properly?

The easiest way to steam a birch broom is to put it in boiling water for thirty or forty minutes. He's ready. There is another way that better preserves the healing power of birch. And the leaves fall off less. To do this, in the evening before the bath day, put the broom in cold water for a couple of hours. Then we take it out and put it in a plastic bag until the morning.

Wash the broom with warm water after use. Let's put it in a bag and dry it at home, hanging it on a rope in a ventilated place. One product may well be enough for two to four visits to the steam room. However, it depends with what force you whip them on the sides and back.

However, gradually the leaves become less and less, the branches become “bald” and break off. And when not a trace remains of the former splendor, measures need to be taken. If you feel bad about throwing away the product, you can perform resuscitation.

To do this, take brooms and put them in a container of water (if cold, then overnight, hot, for half an hour). And then we sort, first throwing out completely bare twigs and those with less than a dozen leaves. And we divide the rest into short and long, then we knit them again. Done - you can steam three more times.

The water in which the birch branches lay is also very useful. You can rinse your hair and entire body with it after washing. It tones the skin, removes dandruff, and strengthens the hair roots.

Purchased or homemade?

In principle, if the broom is of good quality, then when using it it is not so important who made it. Some people don’t want to bother, and would prefer to purchase this item directly in the bathhouse - fortunately, such a service exists everywhere. Someone tries, knits brooms, and someone buys them. Quite natural.

However, how nice it is to proudly show off to friends and try out in practice a bath attribute, the branches for which were lovingly selected from young birch trees in June, and then knitted with your own hands. It’s like getting a jar of your own mushrooms, collected in the forest and salted according to a special recipe. So many people choose this option. And savings for the family budget, by the way.

Take care of your health!

Birch brooms for a bathhouse are what you need. There’s no way without him. The article contains a lot of useful information on how to properly prepare a birch broom for a bathhouse yourself, we have a birch tree growing in our dacha, now we will need to knit a broom for a bathhouse ourselves, and not buy it.

I remember that at our dacha, my grandfather always prepared birch brooms. I didn’t understand then why they were like that. Now, after reading the article, the picture has formed in my head. It’s not for nothing that my grandfather valued exactly these, I think he could make them from birch for his dacha. I really liked it.

And I myself was personally convinced that birch brooms prepared for Trinity create a special effect. By this time, the birch leaf has time to get stronger, and the aroma is completely different (well, or this is really true for me).
My husband always prepares the brooms himself, sometimes weaving in sprigs of rowan for a unique aroma.

It seems like you write everything correctly, but when it comes to steaming brooms, many authors make a big mistake using boiling water for a broom. Boiling water can be used if you have a dry broom, and you already need to go into the steam room. Then dip it in boiling water and steam it over the steam from the heater. It’s best if you have an hour before the bath, immerse the broom in cold water, handle down, like a bouquet, for 40 minutes. Then immerse it in water for about 40-50 grams. for 10 minutes, or after rinsing the broom in hot water (not boiling water, the hand can barely tolerate it), we pack it in a plastic bag, pour about 300-400 ml into it, close it tightly and place it on the canopy.
If you follow the author’s advice and put a broom in boiling water for 40 minutes, you will get an excellent birch decoction for rinsing your hair and body, and the broom can be used as a washcloth; it will not be suitable for steaming. Sincerely, steam master Sergey.

Sergey, thanks for the addition!

We built a bathhouse on our summer cottage and really want to start using it next season.

And, of course, we need brooms. Where is the best place to get them, what raw materials should they be from? How to knit and store them?

Igor Sergeevich DUBOV, Pskov

Although they say that there are no generals in the bathhouse, real steamers consider a broom to be such. It enhances the effect of the procedure by promoting greater opening of skin pores, regulating the distribution of heat over the surface of the body, massaging its surface and removing even deeply ingrained impurities.

The right broom contains phytoncides - specific organic substances that destroy viruses and microbes. Evaporating, they enter the air of the steam room, giving you the opportunity to breathe the cleanest air. And the essential oils contained in the broom penetrate the skin and produce a rejuvenating effect. By the way, it can be strengthened by adding medicinal herbs to the broom.

Now let's figure out where to get brooms. The simplest thing is to buy it near the bathhouse or in a specialized department of the store. However, there will be no confidence in quality, because it is not known how and when the branches were cut, or in what conditions the raw materials or finished products were stored. The best option would be to purchase brooms from “your” seller, the quality of which you have no doubt about.

What are bath brooms made from?

Many people prefer to cut the brooms themselves. But for this you need to have conditions for their storage, as well as know certain harvesting rules.

First of all, you need to determine what to make brooms from. Now the raw materials used for them are birch, wild rosemary, oak, heather, linden, maple, chestnut, poplar, viburnum, willow, alder, hazel, rowan, ash, eucalyptus, conifers, juniper, laurel, currants, cherries, sweet cherries, plum, lilac, bird cherry, nettle, fireweed. In addition, you can make all kinds of mixes (mixtures) both from traditional crops and by weaving medicinal herbs into them.

Raw material collection time

The timing of cutting raw materials is of no small importance. In the Orthodox tradition, the period for preparing brooms is a period of two weeks after Trinity (50 days after Easter), but I believe that since Easter moves annually according to the calendar, this guideline can be used conditionally - to the extent that you trust folk signs and traditions In fact, one must proceed from the actual phase of crop development, which depends on a large number of factors (soil conditions, average temperatures, abundance of precipitation, etc.).

Since brooms are made from various trees and crops, the harvesting time will depend on the selected source material. For example, the last ten days of June and the first ten days of July are ideal for harvesting birch brooms - the leaves are in their sap, the concentration of nutrients is at its peak, and the branches are quite flexible and strong. The best time for heather is from mid-May to mid-June; the same period is acceptable for making viburnum brooms. The time for harvesting oak branches is August and September. Willow reveals its qualities best in May.

The best time for maple is from late August to early September. Linden must be harvested before active flowering (May-June), then you can be sure of the maximum healing effect. It is best to harvest nettle brooms at the beginning of summer, as later the plant becomes coarser and loses some of its leaves.

The good thing about juniper brooms is that they can be prepared at almost any time. But if it is not possible to get to this plant in winter, you can collect its branches for future use during the summer. Alder is harvested from May to July, and rowan - in June and July, at the same time you can harvest lilacs and bird cherry.

It is better to prepare a plum broom in early June. Currants and cherries can be used fresh all summer, and are best harvested in June-July. Personally, I use cherries throughout the period while they are covered with leaves. I tear off a couple of branches and steam them together with the main broom, and when it’s time to steam, I apply the cherry to a broom from another crop.

Rules for preparing bath brooms

It is best to harvest most crops in dry, sunny weather - branches collected at this time hold the leaves better. The best time to go for brooms is in the morning, but after the dew has fallen. Remember that in the forest you should not stop at one tree and pick it. what is called sticky: it can harm him. So take your time and your legs, walk around and try to cut branches from as many trees as possible.

It is best to use the middle part of the tree, where the branches are already quite strong, but still retain their elasticity. Preference should be given to two-year-old trees.

When harvesting branches, do not break them with your hands, but use a sharpened pruner. Cut branches 50-60 cm long, although this will depend on your preference for the length of the broom and how the leaves have grown at the time of harvesting.

There are two ways to prepare brooms: the first is when the branches are not knitted immediately, but are collected into a large sheaf, which is stored in a special place, and only before going to the bathhouse, part of the shoots is taken from it for knitting a broom: the second method is the immediate “release® of the finished “ products”, which is convenient to take to the bathhouse without additional hassle.

The “firm” knits brooms

Regardless of the chosen harvesting method, before you start knitting a broom, you need to clear the branches of twigs and leaves where the handle will be located (about a third of the length). Then they begin to assemble the broom - thicker and coarser branches are placed inside, they will serve as the core base. Then they begin to apply smaller and thinner branches to it - always bending inward (then the broom does not fall apart so much), do not forget that the resulting structure must be dense. Having finished assembling the broom, we begin knitting the handle: we wrap the ends of the branches with rope (flax hemp works well), pulling it as tight as possible. After this, it is necessary to trim the edge of the handle so that no knots protrude from it. It is best to wrap a small cloth around the area where you are going to hold the broom. Do not use wire for tying - you can scratch your hands or burn your skin.

Drying and storing brooms

It is very important to dry the broom correctly; this determines how it will be stored, how much it will retain its beneficial properties and how long it will last in the bathhouse. Agree, it’s not very pleasant when a purchased broom, beautiful in appearance, loses half of its leaves even after soaking, but as soon as you hit it several times, it turns out that there’s nothing to steam with.

Drying must be done in a dry, well-ventilated area without direct sunlight. The ideal place is the attic of a bathhouse or barn. Brooms are dried in a suspended state; to do this, they are tied in pairs and thrown over a stretched rope or wire.

A very important rule is to use loosely laid brooms, then the drying process goes faster and molding of the leaves is avoided. After drying for a week, when the brooms begin to rustle, they are tied more tightly and placed in piles, pressing them against each other so that they take on the shape of a fan. Then the finished products are stored in a dry, ventilated room. Villagers can store brooms in the hay, while city dwellers can store them in paper bags.

BROOM WITH YOUR OWN HANDS – WHAT AND HOW TO USE STEP BY STEP..

On a note

If you are preparing brooms for the whole year, you need to store them either under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area. The brooms need to be tied in pairs and hung on a pole with the crown down.

“In a bathhouse, a broom is more valuable than money”

A GOOD BROOM IS NOT JUST AN ATTRIBUTE, IT IS THE MAIN ITEMS IN THE BATH. TIING HIM IS A WHOLE ART. THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE APPROACHED SERIOUSLY SO THAT AFTER VISITING THE STEAM ROOM YOU WILL BE PLEASURE AND NOT DISAPPOINTMENT.

Someone will say what is so difficult here? I cut the branches, tied them into a bundle - and the main bath attribute is ready, but this is not so. While such a broom is stored, its branches dry out. Before going to the bathhouse, the broom should be tied with twine, otherwise it will simply fall apart. If you dry the broom incorrectly, then at the first blows to the body the foliage will fall off.

A broom is knitted from branches of trees, bushes and even herbs. Birch, oak, cypress, juniper, and eucalyptus brooms are especially popular.

Often, in addition to tree branches, wormwood shoots are added; after steaming, it emits a bitter aroma and releases essential oils that penetrate the body through the respiratory tract and skin pores.

I will describe the process of knitting the main bath attribute using the example of the most common birch broom.

It's time to prepare brooms

You need to start collecting branches after Pegrov's fast (from June 24 to July 11). The harvesting season lasts no more than two weeks. By this time, the leaf on the trees is gaining full strength and subsequently holds on well. In August, juices practically stop flowing into the leaves; they gradually begin to wither. It is better to use such a broom immediately; it is not suitable for drying.

For my brooms, I take raw materials from 7-9 year old trees, cutting off their lower branches, and at the same time forming the crown of the tree.

I cut branches no shorter than 50 cm and not all in a row, but such that at the end there are not only leaves, but also small twigs (photo 7). The more such additional branches, the fluffier and softer the broom will be. Bundle

I tear off the lower branches on the branches and form a broom, stacking them on top of each other (photo 2). I make the butt with a diameter of at least 6-6.5 cm.

The formed broom must be tied properly. First, I determine the length of the butt - the most optimal is from 20 to 30 cm, but more is possible.

I grab the lower part of the broom with two turns of twine and tie a knot, not squeezing the branches too much, so that, having divided the broom into two approximately equal branches, it is possible to twist them with a figure of eight force with a couple of turns (photo 3). At this moment, the branches are so compressed by the rope that they do not give any slack when drying.

Then I twist both halves together in a braid. Near the foliage, I tie one half of it with twine to a knot near the very crown of the broom. Using two or three turns of the same twine around the entire butt, I forcefully squeeze the second bundle together with the first. After crimping, I tie the main knot (photo 4) I trim the bottom of the butt (photo 5) I lightly fluff the broom crown with my hands and shake it, giving it volume (photo 6)

Do-it-yourself bath broom - an interesting old-fashioned method

One of the many sayings about a broom says: “In a bathhouse, a broom is more valuable than money.” A bath broom is an integral part of the Russian bath procedure.
Patting, whipping, rubbing with a broom goes back to ancient times, and the technique of broom massage has changed little since then.

A lot depends on the type of broom; depending on the strength of the material (the branches from which the broom is made), you can arrange the types of brooms in the following order (in descending order of strength):
– oak;
– birch;
– juniper;
– conifers (larch, etc.);
– eucalyptus;
– linden;
– nettles.
If there are no oak brooms, they can be replaced with those made from other broad-leaved trees: maple, mountain ash, hazel, laurel, etc.

Seriously, you can only steam with oak and birch brooms; the rest are used only for added sensations and aromas.

Whatever category of lovers of steaming in public or private baths you belong to, you need to know the basic rules for preparing brooms for a bath. The fact is that you are unlikely to buy good brooms at bath stalls - the flow is the flow, and modern entrepreneurs think more about profits than about traditions.

Preparation of brooms. In the good old days, the preparation of brooms was taken much more seriously than now. It was customary to cut and knit them after the Holy Trinity (second half of June) before the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (mid-August). This applies, first of all, to oak brooms.

If you cannot determine when oak brooms were harvested, look carefully at the branches - they should be thin, at the leaves - they should be green and fresh in appearance (even if they have dried out), and not yellow. It is desirable that the leaves be elongated and the teeth small.

The branches of Canadian oak, which is found in the southern regions of Russia, have such leaves. The broom itself should be light. When you tap your hand, apart from the rustling of leaves, no other sounds should be heard (the rumble of branches, for example - in this case they are too thick and you will have a broom instead of a broom).

Under no circumstances should there be mature acorns on the broom. Acorns are a sure sign of harvesting too late.

Birch brooms are cut in the same way as oak brooms. There is one subtlety (if you have the opportunity to observe future brooms while they are still twigs): when regularly tasting the leaves, you should wait until they stop tasting sweet and become slightly bitter. It is at this moment that the brooms should be cut.

The most useful, “medicinal”, are considered to be brooms cut “at low water” - that is, during the summer solstice.
Birch is cut only from a “veselka” - a tree with thin, flexible, long branches, covered with thick leaves, and therefore drooping. They choose boundary trees - trees that grow on the edge of forests, in open areas and forest edges. It’s better not to take backwoods from the mature thicket. The brooms made from it are heavy, tough, do not get wet for a long time and quickly drop the leaves.

Chemical analysis showed that birch leaves contain essential oils, tannins, vitamin C, provitamin A, so those who visit the bathhouse twice a week with a birch broom have elastic, smooth, healthy skin.

A distinctive feature of birch brooms, among other things, is their “soapiness” - they are good for rubbing.

Oak brooms have special qualities. It is not for nothing that the ancient Greeks, Romans, as well as the Slavs in ancient times worshiped this tree and attributed special qualities to it. It was believed, for example, that someone living near an oak tree does not age, and housing made of oak protects against damage.

The oak branches from which brooms are assembled are, in fact, particularly strong, elastic and resilient.
Properly collected, stored and soaked oak brooms can last up to several dozen sessions in the hands of a professional, and for an amateur, a normal pair of oak brooms will last for 4-5 visits.

A low-growing, young, fluffy tree is selected from the birch forest. It is carefully bent to the ground and branches 400–500 mm long with several shoots are cut off with a sharp knife with a wide blade.

Some people prefer brooms with a length of 45 cm, others - up to 50 cm. In any case, the broom should not be too wide and branchy and too heavy - such a broom is inconvenient for steaming, and when it fills with water, it becomes too heavy to lift and overloads the muscles of the arm.

Having delivered the branches to the place of mating, they wait until they wither (but do not dry out), and begin to sort them by length and density, as well as the strength of the leaves. To ensure that nothing is lost, strong and dense branches are interspersed with “liquid” and weak ones. In this case, the latter are, as it were, embedded inside a strong array.

The branches are tied into bundles with twine and transported to the broom storage place - the hanger. Fans of bathhouse traditions generally advise knitting brooms directly in an individual bathhouse.

The branches are laid one against the other, the deciduous part - against the deciduous one, the cuts - to the cuts so that a fan and a handle are formed.
The branched long shoots are placed inside the fan, and the broom is picked up until the closed palm is completely filled.

Tying brooms can be done, in accordance with traditions, with a knitting rod made from birch or willow itself. However, it will be simpler and more modern to use non-wetting twine. Its end is threaded under the base of the fan between the rods, covered with a loop, a couple of turns are made and secured with a knot.

Then they lower it down the handle and make another fixing loop at the end of the handle.
Excess branches on the handle are cut off.
If the broom is “reusable”, then it is advisable to wrap the handle with a bandage, a strip of cloth, or electrical tape - this will protect your hand from chafing in a humid, hot environment. In principle, you can use a mitten and then no additional winding will be required, but in any case it will not hurt, because it will additionally strengthen your broom.

The end of the handle is trimmed with a sharp ax - and the brooms can be hung in pairs in the attic, on a string stretched there. It should not be too close to the chimney and dormer windows - excessive heat and sunlight will spoil the foliage and dry out the branches.
The best option for storing brooms is in a hay or straw haystack, in a hayloft or in a barn.
Citizens can store a broom that has already been in a bathhouse in a plastic bag in the cold on the balcony. Before the bath you just need to thaw it.

In the middle zone, oak brooms are harvested in August. In the south, brooms should be prepared for Trinity in accordance with the above rules.

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See you again!

Bath brooms now, as before, receive special attention. It is simply impossible to imagine a bathhouse without them, since it will no longer be her, but something else. In fact, steamers are deprived of the emotional and healing effect, so you need to know when to prepare brooms for a bath and how to do it.

But only the correct preparation of brooms for a bath, when all the conventions are met, can be beneficial - help you improve your health and get real pleasure from the procedures. Otherwise, you will simply “whip” yourself with wooden branches, and even damage your skin. This is not just a bath tool, it can be called a complex design, the foundation of which is laid at the stage when it is necessary to prepare brooms for the bath.

The deadline for preparing brooms for a bath is very important and cannot be missed. Only then can you get that one from them.

During the period when brooms are prepared for the bathhouse, almost all parts of the plant - leaves, buds, thin branches - begin to be filled with useful medicinal substances.

In addition, they are obtained:

• durable;
• elastic;
• soft,

and the leaves on the branches will hold on as tightly as possible. Such a “tool” will be able to withstand more than one steam room, which is also important.

What kind of broom is there?

Their range and price are quite diverse, everyone can choose exactly which one they like best. At the same time, you can take into account the opinion of “bath experts” who claim that each of them has its own healing properties.

The most common are considered to be:

• birch;
• oak;
• eucalyptus;
• linden trees

Less commonly used:

• nettle;
• fir;
• cedar;
• juniper;
• from wormwood;
• cherry shoots;
• rowan;
• ashen;
• aspen;
• from bird cherry.

Also recently, combined options have gained popularity, when a few aromatic or medicinal plants are added to the main components:

• linden;
• mint;
• St. John's wort;
• fireweed;
• hyssop;
• lemon balm;
• nettle;
• tansy;
• chamomile;
• currants;
• raspberries

When they are steamed in a bathhouse, the aromas of coniferous forests, garden and meadow plants appear.

Tip: Place stinging and thorny branches inside, except when stinging poultices are needed during the treatment.

Preparation - general knowledge

The most optimal time when it is better to prepare brooms for a bathhouse is considered to be the time of flowering of the grass. During this period, the leaf becomes tender, soft and fragrant, and also already strengthened.

Start preparing on the 49th day after Easter - Trinity Sunday, which usually occurs at the beginning of summer. The best time is the first half of the day after dew in dry weather. Finish on “Ilya’s Day,” August 2, since according to popular beliefs, after this day they no longer have healing powers, except for eucalyptus and oak trees.

Advice: make sure that the leaf holds well and there are no resin or thorns on the branches.

When you need to prepare brooms for a bath, also take into account the following factor; do not use growing raw materials:

• next to the road;
• near industrial enterprises;
• close to high voltage lines.

Rules

1. Treat your plants with care; do not cut off all the branches with your own hands, but only those that are necessary.
2. Choose young plants that are approximately 2-3 years old; their branches bend well.
3. Birch that grows near water, which is called “weeping”, is especially valued:
   
   • the best ones are to take branches close to the ground;
   • shoots should be thin, flexible, straight, hanging and long;
   • the sheet should be velvety, not rough.
4. Cut side shoots using pruning shears for convenience.
5. Do not transport brooms in bags or other containers. It is better to tie them with a rope and leave them open.
6. As the popular instructions say, upon arrival they must be immediately untied so that they do not pack together, otherwise they will not become elastic and loose.
7. You can start knitting only 2-3 days after they have dried in the utility room, where they should be protected from direct sunlight.
8. Sort branches by length before tying.
9. Clear about a third of the leaves from the butt of each branch, then the broom will disintegrate less and will be enough for 2-3 steam rooms.

Birch

Most often it is oak, which is no coincidence.

It is no longer a secret to anyone that birch has long been used in folk medicine and in modern medicine as a remedy:

• diuretic;
• diaphoretic;
• restorative for colds, as well as during surgical operations;
• disinfectant.

In the vast expanses of our country, you can find birch almost everywhere; more than 100 species grow here. Steamers love it because of its small and soft leaves, which easily glide over the body during the procedure and can be used by everyone without restrictions.

Blank

May is the best time to prepare brooms for a birch bath, when young leaves appear on the branches. By Trinity, the shoots will have already collected the required amount of juice and the emerging foliage will reach the required size.

If you miss the moment when to prepare brooms for the bath, they will no longer give the expected healing effect, and the leaves from them will quickly fall off.

Application

Birch branches are flexible and long, so they require certain knowledge and skills to use in a steam room. Sometimes, to make it easier to use, it is “strengthened” with several oak branches, which are placed inside. Now the “tool” will not be so flexible, but this will not affect the efficiency in any way.

Oak

It has anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic properties. A broom made from oak branches is more durable in use than a birch one, and is heavier, which allows it to produce more steam. Recommended for people with skin problems, such as hives or eczema, as well as those who suffer from excessive sweating of the feet and hands.

Do you have high blood pressure and don't know what to do? Use an oak broom in the steam room; naturally, before doing this, you should consult a doctor.

Blank

You need to know when to prepare oak brooms for a bath in order to fully benefit from their use. The best option is from June to September.

At the same time, when preparing oak brooms for a bath, you should take into account its weight and volume, so select the branches in such a way that they are convenient to use. Remember, due to their characteristics, they are much more difficult to use, especially after steaming.

Tip: if you want more humidity in the steam room and thick steam, take an oak broom with its broad-leaved branches.

Lime

The most Russian bath broom is made from linden.

The wood of this tree was also used in ancient times:

• for the construction of a bathhouse;
• benches, shelves, tubs were also made from it;
• they made mats and washcloths.

Note!
The aroma of a linden broom in a bathhouse is reminiscent of the smell of an apiary, where there is fresh honey and propolis.

Healing properties of linden

• Allows you to fight respiratory diseases, for example, tea treats chronic cough, sore throat, etc.;
• General strengthening and sedative;
• Linden blossom cleanses the skin of acne, various rashes, and can remove freckles;
• Linden decoction, honey and tea are used to strengthen brittle hair and whiten skin.

Early spring is the period when it is the most appropriate time to prepare linden bath brooms. At this time, the plant begins to flower.

Eucalyptus

The end of summer - the beginning of autumn, the period when it is already possible to prepare a broom for a bath from eucalyptus. In this case, use only the twig-like type of plant. It helps with diseases of the respiratory system, neuralgia and joint pain, heals wounds well and reduces pain.

Two or three uses are enough. Plus, it's hard to find anything better for natural inhalation.

Tip: When using, reinforce the eucalyptus broom with oak branches to make it easier to use.

Addition

In the form of brooms, you can use shoots and branches of bushes or bunches of various medicinal herbs. For example, nettle, cherry, mint are suitable for this. Wormwood, currant and others. Prefabricated brooms are also made when they are excessively flexible, like eucalyptus or birch.

They are in no way inferior in their healing characteristics to similar options.

When making a choice, remember that the use of a broom depends on its flexibility and shape:

1. Massive oak brooms generate more steam. They should be moved with caution so as not to burn the body.
2. Soft and long - require more sweeping and powerful movements.
   
3. When you use a broom yourself, you get not only a healing effect, but also physical activity. Together, this will improve blood circulation and metabolic processes in the body and will make it possible to lose excess weight.

Conclusion

Preparing brooms is an important stage in preparation for bath procedures. Every tree at some point becomes a storehouse of healing properties, so this moment should not be missed. In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

There is nothing complicated in preparing brooms for a bath, but, as in every business, there are some nuances: you need to know when it is better to knit brooms for a bath, which branches to choose, how long they should be, how to preserve brooms for the whole year without losing quality .

When to knit brooms for a bath

Our ancestors prepared raw materials for bath brooms in the first half of June - on Trinity Day after Green Christmastide. If you are far from church calendars and rituals, collect branches in early June, when the foliage has already grown and become stronger, but has not yet become faded and withered.

For church holidays or calendar dates, you can only focus on regions: our country is large. In some places it’s almost summer on Trinity Sunday, and in others the leaves have barely sprung. So it’s better to focus on the condition of the foliage.

When are birch brooms harvested?

Not much time is allotted for harvesting birch brooms: a week at most. You need to have time to prepare birch branches when the leaf has already turned green, and not light green, but before the earrings bloom. If time is missed, the foliage becomes very hard and falls off greatly in the bathhouse. So the harvesting period for birch brooms is very short.

But time is not the only criterion. When choosing branches for a birch broom, you need to be guided by the appearance of the leaf. It should have a deep green color, the plate should be smooth. There should be no aphids or other pests or diseases. But, most importantly, there should be no earrings on the branches. And for greater effect, you need to cut birch branches with a broom during the specified period, but after a rain. Only the birch must already be dry, otherwise when steaming the leaf will darken and curl.

More advice from the older generation: cut a broom when the leaf on the birch tree is no larger than an old five-kopeck coin, and it should feel slightly sticky to the touch.

But with sticky leaves you get a “soapy broom”. It has an excellent effect on the skin: it becomes silky and soft. But at the same time, leave the steam room with your skin covered in mucus. Not everyone likes this feeling. So here you have to choose: either more comfortable sensations with more “mature” foliage or elastic skin.

Birch brooms harvested in May smell differently than summer ones: they add a smell very similar to the smell of propolis. At this time, there are light stripes on the skin of the twigs, which release this aroma. Such stripes are not found on all branches; they need to be selected separately. Running your hand along such a branch, you feel the tubercles - these are the very resinous odorous secretions. If anyone hasn't tried it, try it. Very pleasant sensations, although the sheet is sticky at this time.

Some bathhouse lovers especially appreciate birch brooms that grew near water - a river or lake (but not in a swamp). Such plants have long, elastic and flexible branches. Twigs, growing roots or stumps of birch trees are good. They are flexible, elastic and tender.

On trees, the lower climbing shoots are considered the best. They are cut for a broom. It is better not to cut single young ones without side branches, even despite the large, beautiful and dense leaf: it turns out to be a whip. And this is not at all what is required from a bath broom.

If you don’t need to cut more than two or three pieces of a young tree, you can harm the plant. Know when to stop - take care of nature!

Old people who love baths say that even in a birch grove you can’t take branches for a broom from every tree. But only from those whose birch bark on the trunk seems to shine a little. Moreover, the spots on the birch bark are not gray, but rather brownish in color. There are not very many such trees, but they exist. Try to find at least a few and stack the branches separately. Then evaluate the difference and next time you won’t regret it.

When preparing brooms, birch foliage should be dense and smooth. Some people recommend trying a birch leaf with your tongue. If it is rough, the branch is not suitable, if it is smooth and velvety, it is an excellent raw material.

You can navigate by the stem of a young birch leaf. If it has already turned reddish, you can cut it, but if it is green, it’s too early.

The video shows how to choose birch branches and correctly knit brooms from them.

We prepare oak brooms

The harvesting period for oak brooms is longer: starting from the end of June, and some are harvested in August and early September. Depends on the year and region. But even in the same region, it differs greatly from year to year. In some areas you have to hurry: later the foliage is affected by diseases and becomes lethargic or spotted. But sometimes, after disease damage in August-September, the foliage on the oak tree grows back. Then you can also get excellent brooms.

When harvesting an oak broom in the summer, pay attention to the condition of the leaf: it should be an even, dense green color, without spots. The main rule: there should not be an acorn yet. As when harvesting birch, branched shoots with large leaves are taken.

But there are lovers who harvest oak brooms in September. In this case, the leaf turns yellow or yellow. They say it also “works” very well.

For gourmet bathhouses, oak brooms, made from tree branches near which burdock grew, are highly prized. Their shoots are considered the most durable and flexible. Trees should grow in shady corners of the forest and be young: on old ones it is difficult to find non-knotted branches of sufficient length. The foliage should be large and abundant.

The preparation of oak brooms has its own specifics:

• firstly, the cut branches are stored in a shady place for an hour and a half, and only then can they be transported;
• secondly, after the oak broom is tied, you need to put pressure on it to give it the shape of a fan - this shape is the most common, but some people prefer oak brooms of the traditional spherical shape.

When to cut linden brooms

If you want a linden broom with color, you have a week and a half to prepare it. And that’s due to different species blooming at different times. In general, the best period is considered to be when most of the flowers have already opened. The aroma in the bathhouse is amazing.

Linden with flowers smells amazing, but they won’t be able to “work” properly - the leaf is soft

There is a linden broom and a later preparation. He also has a period of two weeks - from August 15 to September 1. This is what experts say, who claim that previously collected linden branches contain, of course, more useful substances, but the leaf on them is too soft and, when steamed, curls and wrinkles so that it is absolutely impossible to steam with it.

Preparation of coniferous brooms: spruce, juniper

The “widest collection range” is found in coniferous species. There are no restrictions here. In Siberia, coniferous brooms are made both in the most severe frosts and in the summer...

Choose a warm, fine, dry day for harvesting. The branches begin to be cut after the dew has dried. They choose the young and flexible. There are no other recommendations.

How to make nettle brooms

Despite the “terrible” sting, you just need to try the nettle broom. Then you will really enjoy steaming with it. Harvesting them for the winter is problematic, except perhaps inserting a few branches into birch and oak trees. No other way. But you can steam fresh all summer long.

Young shoots without color, about 40-50 cm long, are cut off. They are made short and fluffy. It’s better to work with gloves: it stings. It turns out to be quite soft: only for one person.

There are quite a few ways to steam a nettle broom. Basically, they dip into hot (not boiling water) water for 3-5 seconds, then into cold water. All.

The second option is to dip it in cold water, then after steaming, trample on it in the steam room with your feet, hold it over the steam, adding a ladle of water.

Regardless of how you prepare the broom, they need to “work” on the already steamed body. That is, you first need to steam with birch.

There is one thing about using a nettle broom: it strongly stains the wood. Therefore, it is better not to put it on the shelves. Bring a rug and place it on it.

All other brooms (and what they are like and how they affect the body, read the article “How to steam a broom for a bath”) are collected in the same time frame as birch brooms until August 2.

If you want to knit a broom from herbs, you need to know the timing of its flowering - at this time they have the highest concentration of useful substances.

How to choose branches for a bath broom

Branches are cut from young trees that grow in sunny, non-wetlands, away from roads and enterprises with harmful emissions.

The length of the branches is selected depending on the selected broom size. Usually it is from 40 to 70-80cm. Whichever is convenient for you. The thickness of the handle is selected in the same way. The diameter rarely exceeds 5 cm - it is difficult to swing too large and heavy, although it is a matter of taste and habit.

The branches should be smooth, free of diseases and dried parts. The foliage is thick and juicy, not too tough. It is advisable to choose branches with two or three branches - the broom will not only be more magnificent and beautiful, it will also be denser and will “capture” steam well. When you walk over your body with such a broom, you do not whip it, but massage it.

How to knit brooms for a bath correctly

Having selected suitable branches, you can immediately collect them into brooms. Some bath lovers advise pre-soaking them for several days in an unlit, well-ventilated place. They say the branches need to be “withered.” It's easier to work with them then.

The shoots are thicker on the inside and thinner on the outside. If there is a bend on the branches (and most often this happens), then the bend should point inward. Also make sure that the matte surface of the sheet is directed inward, and the shiny surface is directed outward. It should turn out that their shiny side is directed in one direction. When folding, give it the shape of a fan or a “bouquet” - they do it in different ways. The fan broom is more common: it seems to hug the body. The feeling is pleasant.

For the handle, remove the foliage from the bottom. Its length is selected individually, but the most optimal, established experimentally, is two palm widths. It is also necessary to expose the butts of the branches so that the brooms are better preserved during use. If everything is done correctly, then one broom can be enough for two trips to the steam room.

When folding the branches, they are turned over and shaken several times so that they are distributed more evenly. For knitting, it is better to use natural materials: thick twine, hemp rope, medical bandage or other similar materials. It is better not to use metal wire: it heats up in the bathhouse and such a broom is very uncomfortable to hold in your hands.

There are several knitting techniques:

Used for knitting and clamps. Some are plastic, some are metal. They quickly tighten the handle and hold it tightly. Moreover, after drying, it will be possible to tighten it. To prevent all these puffs from rubbing your hand, then wrap the handle with thick cotton tape: sold in hardware stores, sometimes in hardware stores or haberdashery stores. You can wrap the handle with thick cotton rope (after using the broom, you can remove it and tie the next one).

There are still many ways to knit brooms. Some people use nautical knots, which make it possible to tighten the rope after drying, others place two parts of the branches crosswise with the butts, then tie them not very tightly, then forcefully connect the two parts and tie them finally at the butt and higher. Almost every master has his own secrets. But they are very reluctant to share them. Try simple methods first, then adjust as you like. There will be your personal method of knitting a bath broom.

Proper drying

No matter how you knit the brooms, they still need to be dried. They are immediately piled up, one on top of the other. They stay like that for a day or two. They become flat under their own weight. Then they can be tied in pairs and hung on a rope or pole in a dark, well-ventilated room.

If it is possible to hang brooms in the attic, they can be tied in pairs (without cutting off the remaining twine for tying) and hung to dry on poles. The best brooms are made under a double roof: the heat will not “burn” the leaf, but will dry it out. But ventilation must be good. If you don’t have the luxury of your own attic, you can hang the broom on a nail in a well-ventilated place. In any case, you need to find a room where it is not exposed to direct sunlight. Only under such conditions the leaf remains green and does not fall off.

With any drying method, the brooms should not be placed close to one another - there should be free space between them. At first, in order for the branches and foliage to dry evenly, they need to be turned over once or twice a day. When they are completely dry, they can be stored.

How to store bath brooms

Dried brooms can be stacked on a bookcase or shelf (the room again should be dry and well ventilated). But from time to time, the brooms need to be rearranged so that those located at the bottom are in the middle or at the top. Moreover, the brooms should not be exposed to light: the leaf will turn yellow.

If you have your own hayloft, you can stack the brooms on dry hay, placing them loosely next to each other. Cover the top with dry hay. This is how our ancestors kept them.

For apartment dwellers, there is also a storage method: make small holes in a cardboard box, put brooms into it without crushing it, alternating the handle and the crown. In this case, you also need to periodically shift them, lifting the bottom ones up.

You can also store brooms in the refrigerator: they are packed in a plastic bag or wrapped in cling film, placed on the bottom shelf, in a dark, dry corner.

As you can see, tying a bath broom yourself is not difficult. But this is just the beginning. Brooms, even the most wonderful ones, can be ruined by steaming them incorrectly. Read here how to avoid such trouble. Don’t forget to read the article, “How to take a steam bath properly.”

When to knit brooms for a bath: collection of raw materials and beneficial properties of plants

A broom is the basis of a Russian bath; of course, it can be purchased in a specialized store, but it is much better to prepare it yourself. Then there will be complete confidence that the raw materials are collected according to all the rules and contain the entire complex of useful substances. Knitting brooms for a bath can be combined with a trip to nature.

Harvesting must be carried out within a certain period of time, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the desired effect. Many types of trees and medicinal herbs are suitable for the broom. The main requirement is that the plant grows in an ecologically clean area, away from roads and populated areas.

Which plants are suitable for knitting brooms: the period of collecting raw materials

One of the most popular plants in Russia is birch, but it is not the only one suitable for knitting brooms.

There are traditional types:

• Oak;
• Linden;
• Juniper;
• Eucalyptus;
• Tansy;
• Artemisia;
• Rowan;
• Nettles;
• Spruce

Each of them is endowed with various beneficial properties aimed at restoring body functions. The quality of the future broom and its durability directly depend on where and when the raw materials were collected.

Birch: collection time and beneficial properties

This plant is rightfully considered the best participant in bath procedures. It has a gentle effect on the body. The collection of raw materials begins in mid-June and continues until August 2. Young flexible branches of weeping birch and curly birch, growing on the banks of reservoirs, are best suited.

With your own hands, cut only side shoots about 50-60 cm long, without touching the tops of the trees. Harvesting at the beginning of summer is quite justified - by this time the foliage has already absorbed sufficient nutrients and is filled with essential oils.

What are the requirements for birch branches and leaves:

• The age of the tree should not exceed 2-3 years;
• The outer side of the leaf is tender and smooth; the rough ones will make a rough and hard broom;
• The leaf size is small to medium;
• There should be no knots on the branches.

Only a dry day is suitable for collection; if it rained the day before, you will have to wait a few days.

What effect do the substances contained in birch leaves have on the body:

• Relieves aches in muscles and joints;
• Eliminates skin irritation, cleansing it well;
• Wounds heal several times faster;
• It has a positive effect on the respiratory tract - very useful for experienced smokers and asthmatics.

Note!
The infusion left after steaming the broom is very beneficial for the scalp - it relieves itching and eliminates dandruff.

Oak broom: when to collect

The second most popular tree after birch is oak. It is harvested in July-September; “winter” is most suitable - it does not shed its leaves and, accordingly, is more durable. If you are lucky enough to find a tree growing in a dense darkened forest next to large burdocks, then the branches from it are also suitable for collecting - the leaves from them do not fall off for a long time.

The most popular species can be called pedunculate oak - this is the most common, it grows throughout Russia. Young trees 3-4 meters high are suitable; small plants should not be touched - they may die. Plants should be given rest and brooms should be harvested from them no more than once a year.

The earlier the broom is prepared, the more tender the foliage, but it will also be less durable. They cook them until the first frost, then they can no longer be cooked. But the optimal time ends in September, then the quality of raw materials drops.

To know how to properly knit oak bath brooms, you need to understand their beneficial properties:

• Unlike birch, oak does not cause profuse sweating, therefore it is more suitable for those with oily skin;
• The skin becomes denser, tannins and essential oils cleanse, have bactericidal properties and impart dullness and elasticity, preventing aging;
• People prone to high blood pressure and heart disease can steam with such a broom - it calms the nervous system and helps reduce blood pressure;
• Has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Brooms are knitted in two ways: with a shovel and with a ball. This does not affect the properties in any way and depends on personal preference.

Features of preparing brooms from other raw materials

Not only ordinary trees and shrubs can serve as raw materials for bath brooms. For them, medicinal herbs are used, which are not necessarily used as decoctions or tinctures. One of the treatment methods is to “drive” them into the skin.

To do this, herbs are collected and tied into bundles by type or prefabricated brooms are made. To select the right herbs, you need to know when to collect them and how to knit brooms for a bath, combining different raw materials. Each medicinal plant has its own collection period. It is at this time that it accumulates the maximum amount of useful substances.

For brooms, flowers and leaves are prepared on a long stem so that they can be tied conveniently. They are collected by hand; the plants must have no signs of wilting and grow away from roads.

Suitable for use in a steam room:

• Tansy - collected at the end of summer, dried in the shade. Brooms made from it help cure skin diseases and joint pain;
• Wormwood - brooms can be knitted all summer, but the best time for collecting is June. It relieves irritability and improves sleep;

• Nettle – young plants are harvested in May. At this time, it is not particularly hot and can be used even fresh. The plant has a tonic effect;
• Yarrow - collected during flowering, used in combination with other herbs. Relieves skin irritation;
• Chamomile – it is harvested in June. Bunches of the plant are tied into bath brooms made of birch or linden. Soothes and disinfects wounds.

Note!
Medicinal herbs as bath brooms should be used only after consultation with a doctor, and if there are no contraindications.

If the time of collecting medicinal herbs and other raw materials for brooms coincides, then they can be dried together. You need to know how to properly tie a broom for a bath if it contains several types of plants. Herbs are usually placed in the middle and hidden by the main branches.

Before harvesting and knitting brooms from different plants, you need to familiarize yourself with their beneficial properties, which are described in the instructions for use. Medicinal raw materials are dried and stored for no more than one year.

When knitting brooms from pine needles and eucalyptus

It makes no sense to harvest branches of coniferous trees for future use, because when the needles dry out, they fall off. Therefore, real experts and lovers of steaming cut off the branches immediately before going to the bathhouse. As a result, you can use fresh brooms throughout the year. The exception is juniper, but it is not stored for long.

How to knit bath brooms from coniferous plants so that excess resin does not interfere with steaming? They must be arranged in a certain sequence: thick branches are laid inside, and the outside is lined with flexible and thin ones. It is useful to add branches of other plants and wrap them with a rope; they will cover the handle and the resin will not get dirty.

Branches of some trees that do not grow in central Russia are harvested until the end of November. For example, eucalyptus, whose leaves are just gaining full strength by this time. Dry the raw materials at a temperature not exceeding 35 degrees, in the shade. For greater safety, they are packaged in paper or cloth bags.

Eucalyptus brooms help in the treatment of skin and colds and stimulate the immune system. Since its branches are very thin and flexible, it is advisable to combine it with birch. The price for them depends on the size and length of the branches.

Conclusion

Bath brooms are used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The time for harvesting raw materials for bath brooms varies depending on the plant, but to a greater extent it occurs in May-September, with the exception of needles. It is during this period that the accumulation of useful substances takes place.

In order for bath procedures to bring joy, it is important to knit brooms correctly and store them. The video in this article will tell you about when and how to collect herbs and tree branches.

Preparing bath brooms: combining business with pleasure

• Healing properties

Steaming with a broom is a native Russian tradition that has many advantages. The preparation of brooms for the bath lasts from May to the end of August and depends on the branches of which bush or tree they are made from.

General rules for preparation, knitting and storage

It is best to use fresh twigs, they contain more phytoncides, essential oils and other active substances. But, out of season, you have to take previously prepared brooms with you to the bathhouse.

In the central part of Russia, the main preparations are made in May-June. During this period, trees, shrubs and herbs bloom, the leaves have already become stronger, have collected juice and have the greatest aroma.

Advice from the master!

Branches should be cut in dry weather. Even slightly wet leaves from rain or dew will quickly curl, fly off or deteriorate. Cut material should be stored in the shade. Under the influence of direct sunlight, beneficial essential aromatic substances will disappear from them.

Briefly, the rules for preparing brooms for a bath are as follows. There are several methods for drying tied branches.

You can do this in a dry and dark part of the attic of a house, bathhouse, or garage. But a small pile of hay is best. In the city, brooms can be stored on loggias, balconies or mezzanines in paper bags.

You can dry them on the roof of the barn:

• Spread meadow hay on it
• Place branches on it at small intervals from each other.
• Cover them with a layer of hay on top
• Turn the branches over every 3 days for a month

Then cover them with fresh grass and leave to dry until early October. In the fall you can start tying brooms.

As a rule, “bouquets” are stored on a rope, tied in pairs. But you don’t have to knit them right away, but make small sheaves from the twigs. They are placed in the attic or barn, wrapped in hay. Before visiting the bathhouse, take out a few twigs from the sheaf and tie a broom.

This is how it should be done. Place thicker branches inside, they will serve as a base. Around them, in a bend inward, distribute thinner branches.

Remove twigs and leaves from the handle of the workpiece in advance. Make the broom light so that your hand does not get tired when using it. After collecting the branches, wrap them with twine, and to avoid injury, cover the handle with a thin cloth or bandage.

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How to make “bouquets” for a bath from various plants

Birch brooms are harvested until mid-June. It is better to cut the branches immediately after the dew has disappeared.
Young weeping birch is most suitable for harvesting. It’s good if it has never bloomed before, such a tree has delicate leaves.

For a broom, choose straight, thin, long and flexible branches. Try to cut them from birch trees that grow next to the pond. To prevent the tree from dying, take only side branches or shoots at the roots.

Loosely tie the workpieces and hang them under a canopy on a rope or in a room that has good ventilation. Make sure that the branches are not exposed to the sun's rays. After a week, tie the dried pieces tightly and place them in a ventilated and dry room.

The finished broom should have a matte green color. It should give off the smell of birch balsamic oil, which intensifies in the steam room.

Almost all summer is suitable for collecting oak branches. Cut them from oak trees that grow in a damp and dark forest or oak grove. Oak brooms are knitted and dried in the same way as birch brooms.

Eucalyptus leaves are used for eucalyptus preparations. Branches are cut in August. It is recommended to include them in regular birch or oak “bouquets”.

Cherry and currant preparations are made at the beginning of summer. Unnecessary young shoots and growth at the roots are cut off. Linden, alder, and rowan branches are best prepared from July to mid-August.

Coniferous brooms are cut at any time of the year and used immediately. They are not suitable for storage because the needles fall off quickly.

Nettles are stored before and during the flowering period, in July. But wormwood brooms cannot be made while the plant is flowering. Otherwise, you will experience skin irritation after the steam room. Harvest stems that have already faded, but are strong and not withered.

Advice from the master!

Now, especially important tips for preparing brooms for the bathhouse. Please ensure that the bushes, trees and grasses from which you will make the fan grow as far as possible from factories, roads, and oil pipelines. It is not recommended to transport branches tightly packed, otherwise they will overheat and the leaves will fall off.