Trunk paint can help protect young fruit trees

Q: My dad helped me plant a couple of young apple trees in my backyard last weekend and so far, so good. After we finished I said the only thing I had left to do was paint the trunks white. He looked at me like I had three eyes and said that was unnecessary. I know that you’ve recommended trunk painting in your articles before, but I can’t give him a definitive answer as to why it’s suggested, and for the life of me can’t remember what to paint them with but remember you were very specific about what to use. Please, would you remind me as to the why it’s suggested and then guide me to the proper product? Not that I want to prove Dad wrong, my aim is to keep my baby trees as healthy as I can. — R.G., Los Lunas

A: The two main reasons for painting the trunks of your young apple trees are sun-scald and sunburn, and no they aren’t the same thing in my opinion.

Sun-scald is a malady that rears its ugly head in these parts because of the winter weather. You know how we’ll be cold for a time and most all plant life is sitting in a state of dormancy? Well, then we get a few really pleasant days in a row and the trees get confused and sap can start to move up the trunk because the sun feels so marvelous shining on the trunk. Then, wham, the weather chills right back down and as that freshly moved sap freezes it can cause fissures or cracks in the trunk creating a wound that could be a long time curing. Having painted the trunk white the sunlight is more reflected and the trunk doesn’t heat up allowing much, if any, sap to flow keeping the sun scald at bay.

Sunburn happens to young trees because the canopy isn’t developed enough to offer shade to the trunk like it would to a tree that is older. The sunlight the young tree is exposed to, especially during the summer months, is enough to sunburn the trunk. Again the trunk could suffer burn spots that weaken the bark creating the avenue for a whole host of troubles.

The product you are looking to invest in is a water-based latex paint. The reasoning is that the latex can expand as the tree grows and won’t impede the trees’ health.

Another nifty reason is actually pest prevention. Applying the water-based latex paint will help prevent wood boring insects from infesting the trees. How cool is that?

When you apply, I’d suggest that you uncover the very base of the tree trunk about 6 inches below grade and start there. You’ll paint the whole trunk up to a height of at least 18 inches, better 24 inches, up the trunk. You can even paint to the point where the first branches come off the trunk with no worries. Make sure you paint all the way around, making sure to cover it completely. Don’t leave any unpainted spots as thoroughness counts with this project. Once the paint is dry, don’t forget you’ll need to scooch the soil back to the base of the tree that you moved to get the below ground trunk painted.

Most often tree trunks are painted in the fall, so the tree trunks are kept more stable through the winter months. I’ll suggest that you paint soon to help the trunks from getting sunburned this coming growing season and you’ll be offering an added layer of pest prevention. It might look a bit peculiar but in the long run your young trees should stay healthier for it.

Happy Diggin’ In painting your young apple trees with water-based latex paint, even if dad thinks you’re balmy!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.