Have you ever seen a young tree that appears to have had its entire trunk painted white? It might be painted another light color but it’s usually white and as such, really stands out given that tree branches and trunks are normally brown.
The question is, why? We don’t normally think of painting a tree so there must be a valid reason. Turns out, there is a legitimate reason and it has to do with tree protection.
Painting the trunk of a young tree with diluted interior latex white paint is referred to as whitewashing or limewashing and is done to protect the tree bark from direct sunlight and can also protect against natural predators such as animals and insects. White reflects light so it’s a natural color choice.
Let’s take a closer look at whitewashing and why it benefits your trees and how you can go about doing it yourself. We’ll also discuss a related process called limewashing, and we’ll explain the differences.
Why Consider Whitewashing Your Trees?
There are several main reasons why whitewashing can help protect your young trees:
Protection against sun damage
Young trees – fruit trees in particular – can be very susceptible to sun damage from direct sunlight especially during the winter months when the trees are expected to be dormant.
By coating them with white paint, the tree is protected from the sunlight and isn’t tricked into believing it’s summer when it would normally be blooming.
The roots of most trees remain underground where it’s dark so they remain dormant in winter regardless. But the tree trunk is above ground and always visible to the sun’s rays. Thus the white paint coats the bark, keeps it cool and prevents the sun’s rays from heating the bark and beginning the process of coming out of dormancy in the winter when it’s unwanted.
In the summer, direct sun rays can effectively give the young tree bark sunburn so the paint protects against that too.
Think of it as sunscreen protection of sorts from the harsh spring and summer rays of the sun.
Protection of the bark
Whitewashing can also help to protect against bark from cracking and breaking off the tree.
This is especially possible when cold evenings or otherwise frigid weather when freezing occurs and then thawing occurs come morning. As the tree grows, the delicate bark can be damaged either by nature or living things like birds and insects or even fungi and bacteria.
When protective bark breaks off a tree, it can leave openings for boring insects and other pests to enter the tree which in extreme cases, can infect and even kill the tree.
Plus as we’ll see below, whitewashing can also protect the bark from animals who like to feed on it.
Aesthetic reasons
Some people like the look of the white paint color at the bottom of a tree. It’s a nice contrast especially when your trees have colorful leaves.
Some tree bark can be quite ugly especially if it’s damaged, cracked or chipped.
Since the rest of the wood on a tree is typically a brown color, the white is quite an interesting contrast, especially if the leaves are green, red or another bright color.
Why Else Should You Whitewash Your Young Trees?
Even professional horticulturists still use whitewashing to protect their important trees. It’s a relatively easy and simple way to protect your trees – fruit trees in particular – from various types of damage.
If you live in an area with frigid weather – think very harsh, icy winters – whitewashing can help to protect the bark from cracking and other visible damage that occurs when freezing weather is followed by thawing which can crack tree bark.
Why Should White Paint Be Used For Whitewashing A Tree?
White paint is used for whitewashing a tree’s trunk and entire bark for the same reason that we use white paint on airplanes: White reflects the light. The same principle applies when you wear white clothing during the summer.
White will reflect back all colors that reflect upon it including white light. Other colors only reflect back some of the wavelengths and absorb the rest.
Since you’re trying to reflect the light hitting the tree and not absorb it, white is the ideal and only color you want to consider using when whitewashing your trees.
When Should You Whitewash A Tree?
It’s recommended to whitewash trees after planting them and to use two coats of paint. If you have existing trees, you can whitewash them when you like but sooner rather than later is preferred.
As long as the paint can dry in the local weather conditions at the time, you can whitewash trees at any time of the year.
Unless the whitewashing needs to be redone, you might find that simply applying two coats one time are enough.
What Type Of White Paint Should Be Used?
You should use white interior water-based latex paint diluted with water at a ratio of 50/50 to whitewash your tree trunks. Some people may use 3:1 paint to water ratio depending on the roughness of the bark.
The generally recommended formula is to use 50% water-based interior latex paint and 50% water to dilute the paint. The rougher the bark on your tree(s) the more diluted you can make the mixture to properly cover the ridges completely.
Be sure not to use oil-based paint of any kind as it’s toxic and living things like a tree often don’t respond well.
Also use interior paint only since exterior paints usually contain toxic ingredients to protect against sun, wind, ice, etc which can damage or kill some trees.
Why Types of Trees Should Be Whitewashed?
Young trees and especially fruit trees are susceptible to sun damage to the bark after they’re planted and have taken root. Whitewashing them helps to shield the bark from direct sun and can also help protect against insects and other pests that try to bore holes that can be effectively sealed through whitewashing.
Fruit-bearing trees as well as larger trees and some ornamental shrubs such as crape myrtle
are commonly whitewashed for the benefits described on this page.
How Do You Whitewash A Tree?
Orchadists and tree professionals tend to whitewash trees from the very bottom of the tree right at the ground all the way up to where the trunk starts to branch off.
The paint is simply applied with a paintbrush similar to painting a wall.
Once the first coat has dried, you should add a second coat to ensure the entire outer tree bark is covered.
Alternatives To Whitewashing Your Trees
While the goal of whitewashing your trees is to protect them against the sun, animals and insects, you can also use other methods to do so without actually using paint. Namely, you can:
- Limewash trees, which is a slightly different process which we’ll describe below.
- Apply Kaolin clay spray which tends to be used by orchardists to protect against pests from attacking fruit trees.
- Use tree wraps made of material such as polypropylene fabric, paper, corrugated cardboard or burlap. These are wrapped around the tree similar to how you’d apply a tensor bandage.
- Add plastic mesh tree bark protector, which tends to be best for preventing rabbits or other animals from gnawing on your growing trees. The plastic mesh is wrapped around the lower part of the tree and runs about 2′ high.
What is Limewashing?
Limewashing refers to using a homemade lime-based product rather than paint to whitewash your trees. You can create a homemade version of whitewash that is lime-based with three ingredients.
You’ll need calcium hydroxide powder (hydrated lime), water and linseed oil. For one or two trees, you can mix:
- 1 pint (473 mL) water
- 1 cup of calcium hydroxide
- 1 tsp (5 ml) of linseed oil
Make sure the ingredients are well-mixed before applying to the tree bark with a paintbrush.
Some people substitute salt instead of linseed and if you need a bigger batch due to the number of trees you’re whitewashing, you might just stick with the diluted water-based latex paint option.
Two coats should be enough for each tree. Unless you see cracking, chipping or other noticeable damage over time, you might find that your whitewashing work only needs to be done one time per tree.
Conversely, you might need to whitewash trees every season or two especially due to freezing cold weather or in the instance where you use a highly diluted whitewash that wears out.
While the terms “whitewashing” and “limewashing” are often interchanged, the two processed do have respective benefits which we’ll discuss next, in table form.
Why limewash trees instead of whitewashing them? You may achieve slightly different results related more to preserving the look of the tree when limewashing. We’ll discuss specific and differences between these processes below.
Whitewashing And Limewashing Trees Comparison
Here’s a comparison table that outlines the differences between whitewashing and limewashing trees so you can choose which option makes the most sense for you:
| Aspect | Whitewashing a Tree | Limewashing a Tree |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Used for tree protection, mainly from sunburn and pests. | Primarily used for traditional aesthetics and tree protection. |
| Composition | Typically a mixture of water, white paint, and other additives. | A mixture of slaked lime, water, and pigments (if desired). |
| Appearance | Leaves a white, opaque finish on the tree’s surface. | Creates a more translucent, antique look on the tree. |
| Protection | Acts as a physical barrier against harsh sunlight and pests. | Offers some protection against pests and weather while allowing the tree to “breathe.” |
| Longevity | May need to be reapplied annually or as needed. | Can last longer due to its durable composition but may need touch-ups over time. |
| Application Method | Applied using brushes, sprayers, or other tools. | Typically applied with brushes or soft brooms, requiring a thicker mixture. |
| Environmental Impact | Can have environmental concerns due to the use of paint. | More environmentally friendly due to the natural composition of lime and pigments. |
| Tradition | Not as traditional as limewashing, primarily used for functional purposes. | Rooted in traditional practices, often used to maintain historical aesthetics. |
| Versatility | Less versatile in terms of colors and finish options. | Offers more flexibility in terms of color and finish variations. |
| Maintenance | Requires regular maintenance and touch-ups due to wear and weathering. | Generally requires less frequent maintenance due to its durable nature. |
| Visual Impact | Creates a brighter and more modern appearance. | Imparts a more rustic and vintage look to the tree. |
Both whitewashing and limewashing have their unique benefits and applications, and the choice between them depends on the specific goals and preferences of the tree owner or caretaker.