Why are some trees painted white at the bottom?

Question

I've noticed some people paint the bottom of their trees white. I know for sure some apple trees. I've always wondered why?

Answer 1

Wow, I read through some of the answers and some of you people are a bit clueless. Please, if you don't know the answer don't just answer for points. Your confusing her. Now, for those of you who said it is for insect control you are partially right. Some trees like peach emit quite a bit of sap. While this keeps some insects away, it attracts others. In order to keep all insects away the trees are painted, usually white. What you may not have known, is there is a chemical that can also be added to the paint that slows the growth of the trees to keep them at a certain height. This us usually only used by individuals who own commercial landscape.

Answer 2

Trees are painted white around the bottom of their trunks to reflect sunlight. Sunlight actually causes bark on some trees to split and open. The white paint helps protect the tree from uneven heating and splitting!

The white bark also can act as a wound dressing so trees can heal faster although this has been debated. Black wound dressing actually hinders trees from healing!

Some people find the white painted bark to be ornamental but it is mostly utilitarian.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Shane has it just about right. Apple growers often employ a form of grafting called "top working", to change the variety of apples in an entire orchard. To do this they must first remove all of the leaf bearing branches to make way for the new graft variety. Without the shade provided by a full leaf canopy the tree can "cook". So the growers paint the trees to help keep them cool until a new leaf canopy forms. RScott

Answer 4

The white stuff they paint on the bottom of the tree is an insecticide. It keeps ants and other bugs from getting into the bark and causing damage to the tree.

Answer 5

To keep grubs and insects from infesting the tree through the bark. The part of the tree at greatest risk is closest to the ground. That's why you will see trees painted from just at ground level to 2 or 3 feet above ground level. Also, the white paint is specifically for this purpose (killing or repelling insects).

Answer 6

These are all practical answers. If you intend to paint the tree make sure you use latex as this paint will not be absorbed by the tree, oil base could harm the tree

Answer 7

It is done to make the trees look good and to help to keep bugs from crawling up them.


Previously asked on Yahoo! Answer

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070308194602AA7DOtr

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006052322715

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_paint_the_bottom_of_trees_white
The white "stuff" 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. That is what my neighbor told me when I asked him about his trees.
...............What I was taught...............
I have always heard that using a mixture of lime and water to paint the bottoms was to keep the bugs off and to make it look good.

Answer 8

It is for the tree's protection and health. The "paint" is actually an insecticide to keep boring insects out of the bark. It can also protect the bark from dogs "marking" their territory.

Answer 9

The white you see is usually a typr of grease that is harmless to the trees and animals, but it keeps harmful insects fro getting up into the trees.

Answer 10

theres a few reasons one of the reasons is so that ants dont get on the tree the other reason is to decorate it and in some places they paint the trees to let people now that the tree has a owner and other reason is so that they wont cut the tree down hope this helps