Painting Your Fruit Trees

[Smart Red]

I have used a tree wrap that is 'breath-able' material treated to prevent insect as well as rodent damage. It is a stretchy brown paper product -- 3 inch by 50 feet rolls -- that I applied the first 3 years to my new orchard trees. The only damage was from a rutting deer well above the trunk area.

I have also used 4 inch agricultural plastic pipe, cut down one side and put around the trees. It was hard to remove three years later, but the trunks were all sound and clear of any damage -- including mower bumps.

 

[Smart Red]

I've never heard of or tried painting the trunks.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

voles are the biggest killer of fruit trees.....

We planted a few hundred cottonwoods a year and a half ago as part of a study being done regarding the decline in cottonwood saplings in our biome. We tubed them all but in the spring the voles had eaten and killed every single one.

I have also used 4 inch agricultural plastic pipe, cut down one side and put around the trees. It was hard to remove three years later, but the trunks were all sound and clear of any damage -- including mower bumps.

I've found that wasps or yellow jackets have made nests inside those. Maybe not a lot, but a few times in the areas that we've planted

 

[Smart Red]

I never found wasps or yellow jackets, but I did find that ear wigs tried to find a home in a pipe wrap or two. They came out when I sprayed the trees or I'd never have known.

 

[Nyboy]

My grandfather always painted fruit trees in the fall, and always white, not a creative bone in his body.

 

[Smart Red]

Nyboy, white is the suggested color to prevent sunscald. Getting creative is not the best option in this case.

Reminds me of the time a co-worker and I were told to paint the machines in our part of the factory because there was a lull in the work load. We found -- along with the usual drab green and black paint, a couple of cans of pink and yellow. We proceeded in getting creative with the painting we were doing. By the time all the machines were wearing a lovely new coat of paint, the manager walked through the plant. Alas, our creativity was unwarranted and unwanted. We spent the next day painting everything drab green and black. Sigh!

Your grandfather had the better idea.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Nyboy, white is the suggested color to prevent sunscald. Getting creative is not the best option in this case.

Reminds me of the time a co-worker and I were told to paint the machines in our part of the factory because there was a lull in the work load. We found -- along with the usual drab green and black paint, a couple of cans of pink and yellow. We proceeded in getting creative with the painting we were doing. By the time all the machines were wearing a lovely new coat of paint, the manager walked through the plant. Alas, our creativity was unwarranted and unwanted. We spent the next day painting everything drab green and black. Sigh!

Your grandfather had the better idea.

Ugh. I hate when people rain on a fun parade like that :/

 

[Smart Red]

Me, too. The pink knobs and yellow buttons looked good and brightened up the drab green of the machines. I guess, like my lacy work apron, pink and yellow weren't par for Fairbanks (pumps and motors) Inc. where I worked.