Growing up in the 50's, all our European neighbours and fruit farmers painted the trunks of trees to prevent sun scald and also insect damage.

I think you are the Bob Ross of Gardening. You’re soft spoken and very calming, and you’re chock full of wonderful information. I found your channel today and I’ve been sitting here for the last couple hours now watching your different videos. You have a great channel!

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Emillee.

Gardener Scott, Fantastic explanation using IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard in the fall for Winter sunscald protection & spring for Summer sunburn protection. ☀️🌳

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Some of us have both problems.

I Needed this! I’ve looked up why trees are painted a few times, the only information I found previously was that it was a calcium carbonate to protect against pests. I’m about to move to Costa Rica, so protecting against the sun & not using a latex based paint that could seal in moisture is extremely useful knowledge.

I didn't know about this. I've even seen mature trees die off, because of intense summer sun and very hot temperatures. Cheers, Scott!

I lost a couple young trees this year and didnt know I could do this to help them. Thank you for sharing!

I don’t think it’s unsightly. It actually looks really cool. Nature at work! The healing power of plants is amazing. Though I could see it being an issue for the life of the tree.

Well! I finally learn why I see this around. Thanks.

I think this is one of the reasons why my trees are some of the healthiest in our neighborhood (crabapples / decorative plums were planted by the homebuilder and a lot of folks don't know how to care for them). I spent a couple seasons painting the trunks to prevent sun scald. We're at 7k ft elevation here, it makes a *substantial* difference. Hail damage seems to recover way faster, same with cut limbs closing over from pruning. Basically, if you protect the cambium of the tree, it's way more resilient. I prefer to paint my trunks / scaffold branches in early winter when I have the best access. I'd highly recommend a bristle brush. The foam brushes don't really work well for this task. In the winter, you can't rely on the canopy to shade basically much of anything, so I'd recommend hitting all the major branches of any real size, especially if you see sun damage (or prior injuries that aren't healing well). I'm also using the IV organics white paint. I love how it smells (it'll get your attention!). I need to buy another can, I've got about 25 trees to paint this year. I'm especially mindful about sun damage for some of the trees that I have trained along a fence (espalier). The trunks are very exposed. 👍

Wow. Thank you Gardener Scott. Growing up we had a full sized pear tree that was incredibly prolific. When we moved in the trunk had already been painted. I had always wondered why. This may be the reason. Mystery solved lol.

Thank you Gardener Scott for this useful information. For years I was perplexed as to why my peach tree bark peeled and separated from the trunk. I’m ordering the tree paint today. Thanks again!😊🌳

Perfect video. I’ve always wondered why people paint their trees but never got around to ask. I learned something new about the sun scald. I have seen those sun scald damaged trees in my area. If I had known this information I would have painted my young apple trees in the spring.

Now, I know why so many are painted out here in 🌞🌞😎🌞🌞 Sunny Arizona 🌵 🤠 Thanks Gardener Scott.

Certainly, in the less arid and solar intense zone where I am, we grow garlic and onions around the base of apples and pears to prevent mice from girding them and daffodils and rosemary around the whole garden (especially the drip line of a fruit tree) to prevent deer reaching the fruit. I've read recently about using comfrey around the base of trees to provide mulch;other herbs to entice pollinators; and Mountain Mint for its camphor which is great for bee health.

We sometimes call sun scald damage "southwest disease" here in the south.

My father used to paint Garden Lime on the grape trees, roses and fruit tress in winter time.

I like how you explain your work ethic. Slowly and thorough.

Growing up on the east coast where the winter lasts longer then summer i never saw a tree painted until i went to California, i was so confused why they painted the trunks of trees😂

I've had this exact problem for years with our fig trees, and could never figure out why all the woody growth died off every winter and had to regrow from the ground level every spring. I had assumed it was supposed to do this, until I saw other fig growers wrapping their trees in plastic, and I learned that this was to prevent them from drying out in the winter. Last year we did the same, with limited success, as the plastic kept tearing and blowing off the tree. I'll have to try painting it this time, and see if that helps.

@dustyflats3832

Жыл бұрын

I just watched video of James Prigioni wrapping up his fig after trimming and think he said his zone is 7a. He planted next to greenhouse and tied, wrapped in burlap stuffed a cage with leaves And covered with another wrap. They must be fussy if his weather is that warm and still do all that.

We used to paint the trunks with slaked lime paint, keeps the ants away from fruit trees too. At least some of them

@marcogallazzi9049

Жыл бұрын

@d i don't know if it's straight lime, as that stuff is pretty caustic. I used google translate for "cal apagada" (Spanish) and it showed slaked lime.

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

Hello Marco 👋 Lime (limestone) is only one of many ingredients, which include mica (clay), diatomaceous earth, and milk proteins that helps the product last about a year- sometimes 2+ years depending on humidity & tree growth. Lime alone washes of the tree much sooner. Let us know if you have any other questions! Happy Gardening! 🌱👍

@galamander_1327

Жыл бұрын

@@marcogallazzi9049 Slaked lime when wet still has a pH of around 12. I agree that it might be detrimental to use it without anything else mixed in.

Thanks so much for this video. I have been following IV Organic for a while but was thinking I didn’t need it in a colder climate with less sun 😬 I guess it’s time to paint my trees 😊

Didn’t know this is a thing. Thanks for sharing!

I think this would have been nice to know before summer set in.

@dustyflats3832

Жыл бұрын

Yes, but it’s really important now for those in cold climates as the frost cracks kill trees. I forgot one year to put a cover around lower trunk as the maple had thin bark yet even though it was 20’ tall-it cracked Big time and nothing saved it. One day I looked out and it fell over-it was a huge bummer. I have heavy white plastic wraps from an apple tree orchard- they are great.

They do this in Vietnam especially in Saigon. Now I know why. You do great videos explaining things.

Brilliant product and technique. Thanks for sharing.

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

THANK YOU! 🤩🙌

Thank you, great info 👍

Love the idea of it, but at 35$ a pint and lots of trees to do, that gets spendy pretty quick. On the other hand, it's even more expensive to replace trees.... ain't nothing cheap.

Thought you were daffy on this one. Wow. You the best. I could use this.

Thanks for the tip. God bless

Just found your channel thanks for the info

I need to do this

I always wondered why there were paint on tree trunks

I live on a wildlife interstate and can only use 4 inch Pvc to protect fruit trees.

You are so flexible!

Good to know about breathable paint. My experience with freeze cracks cost me a rather large young blaze maple. I was distraught. There was no fixing it, I tried. It fell over at the base. I let 1 sucker grow and is now a nice healthy 10’ tree. My question is because there is still a 10” diameter stump in the ground will that cause it to be a weak tree? Is there a way to stop the suckers? I have sucker problem on flowering crab also. I totally forgot to cover the trunk and we were having polar vortex winter weather a couple years ago and it came to my thought and by then it was too late. The freeze thaw cycle the sun caused split the thin bark as it had not developed thick bark yet. I purchased white guards from an apple grower and they are heavy duty. My maples have them also. Had a peach that a mole got to the base and wasn’t good, but the peach lived. It is important to protect trunk bases. So I have another problem with 2 out of 5 new dwarf apple trees. The leaves dried up. I’m going to try and give them extra water. I know without seeing them it’s a crystal ball question, but do you know what caused this? Is there anything I can do to help them through the winter in hopes of a good Spring start? I thought of adding some amendments, but don’t want new growth before winter. It is possible those two couldn’t take the heat. I don’t believe they are dead, but foliage is mostly brown and dry. Maybe not as well rooted as other three. Any thoughts are Much appreciated. The tags fell off on 2 in shipping, but one is Snow Sweet and the other is either Triumph or Honey Crisp. Thanks again for another important video.😊 Z5a WI. Just seen video on weather prediction for us through MI that we may have another Polar Vortex winter. One year we had frost quakes-that was weird. I think it will be a hard winter as the birds don’t normally clean out sunflowers and the pine is loaded with cones.

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

The stump might interfere with root growth of the new tree and could weaken it. Suckers usually grow due to stress on the main tree. Compacted soil, low water, high heat, excessive wind, and pest damage can all be reasons. Consider mulching your apples trees if you haven't already. That can help with soil moisture and temperature.

@dustyflats3832

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you. I know my question wasn’t totally about frost cracks, but recently noticed dried leaves on 2 dwarf apples. The other 2 with suckers were a flowering crab apple that is 10years old and the sucker it grew from was dug from parent plant that suckers as well and must be the nature of the tree. The Blaze Maple that got the frost crack because I didn’t cover it one winter died, but I trained a healthy sucker from the stump. That tree continues to send up suckers, but the one I trained is very healthy. I don’t know how to stop the suckers and hope growing a tree from the stump is an ok thing to do as it was a beautiful tree. We have oaks and cedars that grow like weeds and wanted to get some other varieties especially for composting. Ugh, the neighbor has let a black walnut go wild and I battle cutting them down all the time 😡. All the trees are mulched, the suckering trees are close to house and get plenty of water, but I may have not got enough on those couple apple trees. I will just give them extra going into winter and hope to see new growth in Spring. My mom use to soak a plant really good and seemed to do them good. The micro climate here zaps moisture from even the best organic mulches and it’s hard to get that sponge rehydrated. Think I will set buckets with a hole by them. Before we planted the apples we had a row of leaves, grass, straw and horse manure that we parted away to plant. Thanks for your input🙂 Just looked closer at the two apples today and there are tiny holes on all the leaves. No sign of what insect did it.

Hey there. When I was recovering from surgery-I had someone come in and mow and weed eat my yard. When I made it outside-I noticed weed eater marks on my small tree bark around the yard. Does weed eater cutting damage kill trees? Should I protect this area on my trees with some kind of cover? I want Healthy Happy Trees. Dewayne Willis

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

That type of damage can kill trees if it is all around the tree and deep in the trunk. Mulching around trees or putting a guard around the trunk can prevent it.

GS, when using the whitewash, when you water the tree and you spray the truck, does the whitewash stay on? Or do you need to reapply the WW? Thanks

@GardenerScott

Ай бұрын

Spraying the trunk will not wash it off. Over time it does wear off. I usually apply twice a year.

Do you have to apply this paint yearly or how long does one application last?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

It depends on the paint and how fast the tree grows. Better quality paints should last at least a year between re-applying.

Hi Scott, thank you for the video. Does this apply to mulberry trees too? I cant find any info about mulberry sunburning

@GardenerScott

5 ай бұрын

Your weather is the primary factor and the age of the tree. Small trees with thin bark are more susceptible to sunburn. Older trees with thick bark are less likely to show damage. Most trees, including mulberry, can benefit from painting if they get a lot of direct sunlight on the bark.

@KingOfShenanigan

5 ай бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you so much! Im gonna paint my tree because I live in Florida

I am up in Butte County where the Camp Fire burned everything up. I have about 80 fruit trees and the leaves are getting seriously sunburnt as well. Does this help against that?

@sevendeadlychins

Жыл бұрын

I can't imagine it wouldn't help.

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

You don't want to paint the leaves because they need to be open to photosynthesis. Inner leaves should be shaded enough to avoid serious damage.

I have I think 2 apple trees and a pear tree . They are still producing fruit but they are not really good. What can I do to rehab them? They haven't been "kept up " with trimming them back etc

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Pruning the trees can make a big difference. Start with dead and broken branches and then work on trimming for size and shape.

@cmissyb

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott thank you gardener Scott. Btw I'm in Tennessee. Should I put mulch or anything on or in the ground?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Definitely mulch. I use wood chips.

How often will you paint the trees? Every year or once and done?

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

Hello Nate 👋 One ‘brush-on’ application may protect your trees for about a year from damaging summer sunburn & winter sunscald (more or less depending on how fast your tree is growing & sloughing off product). If your seeking pest protection, 2-3x application will offer best protection as the oils in the product wear off. If you have any others questions, do not hesitate to contact us! 🌱👍

Does it wear off so the trees are no longer white? Do you have to re-apply it every year? Since there are never leaves on during a cold winter, do you plan to continue to paint your trees when they are older? Do you have links to the plastic and tape? I realize you don't prefer it, but for my trees out front I would rather not paint. I would like to get things you have tried and (if possible) make sure you make $$$ because I ordered it.

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

It should last at least a year, but yearly application is a good plan. I plan on protection until the trunks are much larger. This is the kind of wrap I used: amzn.to/3BtG2Wg

🌱Thank you Scott 🌱for your valuable information.İt is strange that there is no protection from the nature itself.

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

Hello Susan 👋 I love your question! 1st, most landscapes include trees that are non-native & hence require our assistance with whitewash, fertilize, mulch, pruning, etc for optimal flower/ fruit production. 2nd, in nature most tree saplings start their lives protected by the canopy of surrounding trees. Commercial & backyard growers plant young trees where they will fill its growing space without sun protection from neighboring plantings. I hope this information was helpful. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 🌱👍

@sananheybatov2091

Жыл бұрын

@@IVOrganic 🌱Thank you very🌱 much.🌱Your answer was enough for me🌱

Will it prevent spotted lantern flies or spotted red moths? Asking for the Lorax?

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

Hello Michele 👋 YES- The product contains both oils that repel those pests, PLUS diatomaceous earth which will harm pests that attempt to bore into (or out of) your coated trees. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 🌱👍

Would you paint all the way up on columnar apple trees?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

My columnar apple trees had an abundance of leaves that shaded the trunk so only the lower portions need protection.

@cynthiablanton9106

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thank you.

@cynthiablanton9106

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott Thank you.

Could another solution be to plant a couple of nitrogen fixing small shrubs, either side of the tree to shade it and to provide nitrogen to boot?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Yes, small shrubs can shade the tree and help. Nitrogen fixers are good options.

I saw a video where a person decided to paint rocks around her creek. Then decided to actually start painting(blue paint) trees in her yard. Not paint your using. Painted the whole trunk of a lot of trees. Is it safe to paint them?

@GardenerScott

5 ай бұрын

It depends on the paint. This paint allows air to reach the bark. Latex paint can create a seal and promote rot and disease if the bark gets too wet and can't dry.

My spray bottle keeps getting clogged, is there a special spray bottle?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

You can use a spray bottle designed for spraying paint.

Is this most common in the Northern states?

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

I see it in orchards in warm areas, but is common in cold regions.

I used enemel wooden pain to paint my apple tree trunks ...is oil based paint may cause harm

@emmabochsler2527

14 күн бұрын

Whatever happened to your treees? I accidentally painted mine with acrylic paint and wondering what’s going to happen

You forgot to put up the video links!

Does the color matter? Can I paint them black?

@GardenerScott

11 ай бұрын

Color does make a difference, but it doesn't have to be white. White works to reflect heat and light and reduce the chance of sunscald and splitting bark. Black may act to absorb heat and could be a problem.

Have you tried lime paint? It is cooler.

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

This paint uses lime as its base.

Sir by mistake i painted one year old tree trunks with 50% diluted acrylic White interior paint.. will it kill my plants??

@GardenerScott

4 ай бұрын

It shouldn't kill the plants. It will probably wear down in weather and you can peel it off if you're concerned.

@globalguru8891

4 ай бұрын

@@GardenerScott thanks sir

@emmabochsler2527

14 күн бұрын

How are your trees doing? I just accidentally did the same thing

@globalguru8891

14 күн бұрын

@@GardenerScott doing good... colour slowly faded..

@emmabochsler2527

13 күн бұрын

@@globalguru8891did you peel off the paint at all or just leave it be and the trees were fine?

Love the idea of it, but at 35$ a pint/ 200$ a gallon and lots of trees to do, that gets spendy pretty quick. On the other hand, it's even more expensive to replace trees.... ain't nothing cheap.

Thought of this as a CIS schtick, turns out it's not.😊

Should trees be painted that are in containers..

@GardenerScott

Жыл бұрын

Any tree trunk that is exposed to sunlight can benefit from paint.

@jackiekreuzer4008

Жыл бұрын

@@GardenerScott .. Thank you

I see this is very common in the Caribbean. I personally don’t like it.

@IVOrganic

Жыл бұрын

Hello Miguel 👋 If you don’t like the white look of whitewashing trees in color white, IV Organic has several other colors that offer aesthetic protection to your trees including colors brown, green, grey & greige. Whitewashing helps improve the health, longevity & productivity of all tree types (especially avocados & citrus) from the risks of damaging sunburn/ sunscald. I hope this information was helpful! 🌱👍

but the fruits will absorb the dangerous paint chemicals.

@GardenerScott

11 ай бұрын

Fruit doesn't absorb potential chemicals on the bark.

unfortunately the oils in the paint are not biologically stable and effective for very long, i suggest making your own DIY mixes instead of paying for a marketing gimmick