Why are the Base of Fruit Tree Trunks Painted White?
Have you ever seen rows and rows of trees on the side of the road with white trunks? Not white bark, but painted white trunks? Why are the trunks painted white?
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| Rows of White Painted Tree Trunks |
Some growers paint the trunks of their trees white to prevent winter bark damage. In the cold winter months trees with dark bark absorb the sun's warmth, expanding the bark. As the colder temperatures cycle at night, the bark contracts. This freezing and thawing, expansion and contraction can cause permanent damage to a fruit tree. So, for that reason some growers have decided to paint the trunk of their trees white to reflect the winter sun, minimizing extreme temperature swings on the tree's bark.
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| White Paint Can Protect Your Trees From Winter Bark Damage |
Although this treatment is effective, it is not the most attractive way to protect your trees from winter bark damage. Tree wraps are a great way to protect your tree's trunk in the winter and can be easily removed in the spring when the danger of freezing temperatures has passed.
in addition to protecting your tree trunks from winter bark damage some tree paints have been infused with pest repellents and or chemicals that will prevent bark boring insects from feeding on your tree's cambium.
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Next time you see white painted bark, you will know why these trees have been so carefully decorated.
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I paint my trees to prevent pests from climbing up in the spring time.
ReplyDeletewon't work
DeleteThere is a product called tangle foot that works good for that.
DeletePour protéger le trône des maladie et empêcher les insectes de vivre enter les fissure de larbre.
ReplyDeleteSorry, can't comment, because I don't speak that language.
DeleteI don’t do it, but in the south I believe it’s done to prevent sun scald which does the same damage mentioned in the article
ReplyDeleteWinter bark damage is the same as sun scald. Most trees have enough leaves on them in the summer which shades the bark from the sun, so the sun scald happens in the winter.
DeleteHow do you all explain that across Central America they paint tree trunks white as well?
ReplyDeleteYes, painting trunks with paint can also help prevent bark boring insects.
DeleteAll across Central America they paint tree trunks white, too. How do your theories above pose relevancy there? Also, they butcher agaves with excessive pruning--and that poor practice is seen now in the U.S. Could it be an increasing base of ill-educated and ignorant landscape labor?
ReplyDeleteI've had less trouble with borers on the painted trunks and the paint also allows for early detection and treatment for those that do get infested. My neighborhood deer also don't seem to rub on the painted trunks to remove the velvet from their antlers. Paint definitely helps prevent sun scald and is the primary purpose for my paint.
DeleteMy guess is they are painting the trunks for prevention of bark boring insects, but any color of paint will work for that. The white color is used to reflect sun.
DeleteTrees in Central America are at risk of both sun scald and insects. Painting the trunks helps there, too. While wrapping is great, it costs more and takes longer than painting trunks. In Texas, where I lived for years, painting the trunks of fruit trees was widely practiced by skilled growers.
DeleteYes paining bark can prevent wood and bark boring insects from entering your tree.
Delete