the instructions that came with my dwarf fruit trees specifically instructed me to do
this or it would void the guarantee. A young sapling is most susceptible, older
trees less so.
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/h-316.html
"Winter sun scald. Summer sun may can burn the bark of weak trees; however, winter
sun is equally as injurious, even to healthy trees. During warm winter days, the sun
warms the exposed bark of the trunk and main branches on the southwest side. At
night, Temperatures then can fall rapidly below freezing. This alternate cooling and
warming injures the bark tissues. The tree weakens and becomes vulnerable to insects
and diseases. Paint trunks of young trees with exterior white latex paint (not oil
base) to reflect the winter sun. Maintain temporary branches on the lower part of the
trunk to shade the southwest side. Remove temporary branches when higher main
branches extend far enough to shade the trunk in winter. "
many people wrap their trees to prevent sun scald and chewing. If these were planted
in the ground, I like metal screening. I can spray paint thru the screen and spray
pesticides thru the screen if needed. but it doesnt provide a hiding place for bugs
and the white trunk also makes bugs stand out so bugs dont hang around.
you are north of us, but it may also have to do with not getting so damn cold in
winter either. when we get full sun it can be - 25oF ... it is the difference in
temps that causes the splitting. if the wall is soaking up heat then the back side
of the trunk is also warmer. Ingrid
"David Hill" wrote:
"........in winter the sun side heats up because the bark is dark, the
shaded side doesn't heat up, the differential in heating results in
differential expansion which leads to cracking of the bark. I would rather
whitewash than wrap the trunks. Ingrid........."
Interesting
Top fruit planted against walls (Espalier and cordons) was a very important
part of Victorian gardening in the UK, and I have never come across any
reference advocating painting the trunks.
Could be that we don't have the same strength of sunshine here in the UK.
Also some of the walls were actually heated with a series of cavities
running through them and the heat from fires being drawn through them to
give extra warmth to both protect the trees and to give them an earlier
start.
One idea being that the fruit on the South facing wall was first followed by
the fruit on the West wall then the East wall thus giving a succession of
fresh fruit.
Remember that these were the people who by the early 1800's were growing and
fruiting Pineapples under glass in the UK.
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