When temperatures drop quickly after sunset, that tissue can freeze and cause the bark to crack or die. These injuries may leave the tree more vulnerable to insects, disease, and decay.
White paint reflects sunlight and helps keep the trunk’s temperature more stable. Young fruit trees and other thin-barked species are especially likely to benefit from this protection.
Only proper tree paint or diluted interior latex paint should be used, never oil-based paint. Applied in late fall or early winter, it can help protect the trunk through harsh freeze-and-thaw cycles.
