Birch trees are fragile, especially in winter.
You planted your birch tree so you can enjoy its papery thin bark, but this same bark becomes a liability in cold northern winters. Birch trees and other young or thin-barked trees are more susceptible to sun scald, which occurs when winter sun penetrates the tree's cells. The sun's heat warms the cells, but when the sun drops and winter's chill sets in, these cells die, causing bark to flake off. Painting the tree trunk is an old technique to mitigate the harmful effect of winter sun on your birch trees.
Instructions
1. Wait until the autumn to paint your birch trunk so the paint has less time to weather before the winter chill sets in. The University of Tennessee notes that air temperatures need to be at least 50 degrees F for the paint to dry properly and that you should paint on a sunny day.
2. Stir the paint with a wooden paint stirrer. Montana State University notes that oil-based paints will harm the tree, so latex is a must. Interior-grade latex is best for the tree, while exterior-grade latex may damage the trunk, according to the University of Tennessee. Spray paint can also be used, but applying it can be messy.
3. Apply the white paint to your birch tree trunk using a paint brush. Paint the trunk all the way around, from the base of the trunk to the node where the branches begin. While you do not need to paint the tree's branches, you can paint the bottom 10 to 12 inches of low limbs for additional protection.
4. Coat all birch tree trunks with white paint in this manner. When the first coat dries, if the coat seems transparent or spotty, apply a second coat.
Tips Warnings
By painting the tree trunks, you won't have to perform winter protection against sun scald every year. Using a tree wrap requires annual maintenance.
The University of Tennessee suggests painting at least 18 inches of a tree trunk, measured from the ground up.
The University of Tennessee cautions against painting trees that have been planted for less than two years.
