4- 



COATING THE TRUNKS OF FRUIT TREES TO REDUCE WINTER INJURY 



William J. Lord 

 Department o£ Plant and Soil Sciences 



Growers apply white latex paint to trunks of fruit trees 

 to help prevent winter injury. An application to the south side 

 of trunks and to the base of lower scaffold limbs reduces the 

 amount of heat absorbed by the bark, lessens bark- splitting, and 

 reduces winter injury to crotches of painted branches. 



Use only latex water soluble paint. Do not use oil or lead 

 base paints soluble in paint thinner or turpentine. We have 

 found that Glidden 3600 and Kyanize Flat White Latex Paint No. 2000, 

 which are available in Massachusetts are safe to use. However, 

 most high quality exterior latex paints are probably suitable. 

 Nevertheless, they should be tested on a few trees before extensive 

 use because some paints can be toxic, particularly to young peach 

 trees, causing discoloration and cracking of bark and later, gum- 

 mosis . 



The latex paint may be used either without dilution or as 501 

 dilution with water. It may be applied using a car wash mitt with 

 a rubber glove insert, a paint roller, paint brush, or a com- 

 pressed sprayer (if diluted). When wearing a car washing mitt, 

 dip your hand into the paint and rub the mitt on the bark. When 

 painting the lower scaffold limbs apply the latex in the crotches 

 and out on the limbs for a distance of 6 to 10 inches 



Whitewash may also be used to coat tree trunks and branches. 

 It is more economical than latex and can be applied as a spray. 

 However, the durability of whitewash will be less than latex 

 although some formulations of white wash are more durable than 

 others . 



Whitewashes that are used in dairy barns and contain no 

 insecticides or fungicides or contain an insecticide for fly con- 

 trol are available from farm supply stores. Application in late 

 fall seems logical because the fruit has been harvested and con- 

 tamination of leaves is of no concern. 



******************** 



PHOTOGRAPHS OF NUTRIENT DEFICIENCES 



William J. Lord 

 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



Nitrogen and calcium are the elements of greatest concern in 

 Massachusetts orchards. Nevertheless, each year the levels of other 

 elements are either excessive or deficient in some orchards. The 

 May/June, 1978 issue of Fruit Notes contained photographs and brief 



