2006-10-28 10:45:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
MASTER GARDENER TO THE RESCUE
Thank You Ragin Karen from making me write it out again this week. Karen is 100% correct. It has NOTHING to do with controlling anything but sun and wind burn on soft young bark.
(Sore subject with her. She did a lot of it in college. She had a mean, slave driver for a professor that made her paint trees night and day. She still hasn't forgiven me.)
2006-10-28 11:20:03 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 10⤊ 0⤋
It is NOT for controlling anything except sunburn on tender bark. It is a mix of 50 % latex indoor house paint and 50 % water. There is nothing else added because it is against federal law to apply pesticides that do not break down quickly. (quickly like in hours, not days or weeks) The reason folks think it is for insect control is sun burn bark splits and peels allowing insects easy access to young trees. Painting all those trees with a pesticide that will be gone with-in 24 hours would be crazy.
I worked my way thru college working in ag, & hort and painted hundreds of trees.
2006-10-28 11:07:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In cold climates in late winter, there is the natural occurrence of the sun getting stronger and shining warmer, and the south- and west-exposed trees absorb the sun as heat through the bark. This causes a tree to become warm on those sides. As the cold night approaches, these two temperature extremes can cause the bark to split in that region. Also, as with a person in the early spring/summer, the first time you go out into the sun without a jacket you are sensitive to the sun, the same thing happens with bark that has become accustomed to lack of sun: it can burn. This is called southwest exposure damage or various similar names. Anyway, white reflects the light of the sun, so painting tree trunks white lessens this damage that can set the tree up for possible disease and insect infestation. It is used primarily in commercial fruit tree production. It also has the bonus of confusing insects by the sudden reflection of light as they try to find a food source, and thus discourages them, also. So this is just preventive maintenance, sort of like a sun block for trees.
2006-10-28 10:56:39 · answer #3 · answered by steviewag 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure, but If I had to guess I wouldn't say it was paint. I think it's something to keep moss or fungus from growing on the tree. Or maybe even to keep bugs away. Or maybe it's just some crazy way a which keeps bad spirits away!
2016-03-28 10:20:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is probably to deflect the sun's rays so that the tree won't get sunburnt.
2006-10-28 16:27:54 · answer #5 · answered by jammer 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To keep the ants and bugs away from the leafs and tender branches.
2006-10-28 10:49:53 · answer #6 · answered by gabindy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm pretty sure it has to do with keeping bugs off.....ants, termites, ect.
2006-10-28 10:54:37 · answer #7 · answered by ugenius72 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its a pesticide
2006-10-28 10:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by brndn 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋