Why Are Some Trees Painted White?

Protecting Trees From Sunscald and Heat Damage

One of the primary reasons for painting tree trunks white is to protect the tree from sunscald, a type of injury caused by extreme temperature fluctuations during winter.

Here’s how it happens:

• During the day, the sun warms the tree bark, causing it to expand.
• At night, temperatures can drop rapidly, causing the bark to contract.
• This repeated expansion and contraction can lead to bark splitting and damage, weakening the tree.

The white paint reflects sunlight, helping to keep the bark temperature more stable and preventing this damage.