Painted Tree Trunks?

[SmokinDodge]

In my area, central Missouri, I noticed several people have painted their tree trunks white from the ground up to about four feet high. Is this a common practice anywhere else? Why is it done?

TIA

 

[Adkpk]

I don't know. But am interested to hear the answer to this. In my area they use etching acid to write stupid stuff on the windows of subway trains. I am not asking why to this, just maybe its done in the same vain. Bored and stupid?

 

[cord arrow]

.....yeah, that was real popular around here some years back.

.....never knew why.....

 

[treeseer]

because

white reflects light and heat, preventing sunscald (bark killed by sun).

whitewash has calcium, a vital material in the trees' structure and defenses (bones and teeth) that is less available to the tree when acidity of the soil is too high.

Ya don't want your tree to have osteoporosis or cavities do ya?

 

[jimmyq]

I go with Guy's thoughts. soft soap and hydrated lime makes a whitewash. old gaffers seem to think it was a good sunburn protector (for overly pruned fruit trees etc) and an insect deterrent for climbing insects. darn hard to find soft soap these days but hey, doc farwells tree paint seems a close match.