Why are trees painted white around the trunk sometimes?

Question

I see a lot of trees planted alongside roads which are painted white in the lower portion of the tree trunks. Why?

Answer 1

It is just so that they can be better seen in car headlights and people don't crash into them. Hey clue ! - along roads! If it was for any other reason you'd see white painted trees deep in forests.

Answer 2

so people driving at night can SEE THEM!

EDIT: I was curious, so I googled it...

"Have you ever noticed tree trunks painted white, and wondered if it was just for good looks, or perhaps to keep people from running into them at night? While performing these functions, the main purpose of white paint on tree trunks is to prevent sunscald damage in the winter when sunlight awakens the inner tissues, causing them to lose their hardiness. Subsequent freezing temperatures can then cause the bark to split. Interior white latex paint, (the exterior sometimes contains fungicides), mixed half and half with water, can be applied to trunks that are exposed to sun during cold weather. Kiwi trunks are susceptible to this kind of damage, and benefit from the paint."

Answer 3

Most likely it is a wrap as opposed to paint. There are commercial plastic strips that wrap around tree trunks to prevent damage. Since this is along the roadway, think animal or weather damage
When I have seen 'paint' used it is to either seal the tree or repel bugs. Both answers work in this case. I have seen people seal tree wounds with paintable substances (I don't recommend this for various reasons, sorry) and I have seen them use a paint on bug repellent as well.
HTH

Answer 4

An Orange tree takes longer than 2 years before it starts to bear fruit. A good thing to do with them is to urinate under them. I am not joking. It helps the tree for some reason. You can always P I S S in a bottle and poor that on every day. We have had an Orange tree for over 30 years and still do it if we think it needs a pep up

Answer 5

They are painted to prevent pest infestation. In the old days in the South they used to paint the bases of all the oak tress, etc.
They paint on the bottom of the tree is an insectacide. It keeps ants and other destructive bugs from burroughing into the bark and causing damage to the tree.

Answer 6

The trees who are Govt property & should not be cut or harm are painted with white paint along the road or Ground places.

Answer 7

to keep wild animals from doing their business on them.. it kills the trees you know.. the owners want to prevent that from happening by putting white paint on it..

Answer 8

So they are visible at night with your lights on them and you do not crash into them. Sometimes they also paint trees to help resist insect infestations as well.

Answer 9

Dogs won't pee on anything white, so people do that to keep dogs from peeing on their trees.

Answer 10

Coz they liked it, why you wear many coloured dresses every day?