Tree trunks - especially those of fruit trees - can be attacked by various diseases or pests. To prevent this, they are painted with white lime paint - which also has the advantage that lichens and mosses can no longer colonize.
Why and when should you lime a tree trunk?
Limeing a tree trunk protects against pests, mosses and lichens and reduces temperature fluctuations caused by sunlight. The paint should be renewed annually, ideally in late autumn between October and November.
Why is liming a tree trunk important?
Limeing the tree trunk is a sensible measure that gives the tree many advantages and thus contributes to maintaining its he alth. The lime paint
- prevents the settlement of pests
- prevents the settlement of mosses and lichens on the tree trunk
- protects the tree from strong sunlight
The last point in particular is very important during cold, dry winter days. The problem that can arise is that the combination of frost, sunshine and water in the tree can lead to tension in the trunk. These in turn manifest themselves in the cracking of bark and wood. If you now paint the tree trunk white, the color will reflect the sun, so that temperature fluctuations will be significantly reduced.
How to properly lime the tree trunk
You can get suitable lime paint in any hardware store (the more expensive brands are often sold under the name “building paint” or “white paint”), but you can also mix it yourself: Mix powdered lime with water so that a viscous, creamy mass is created. Now use this to lime the tree trunk - ideally from the ground to the crown. The paint should be applied several times in order to kill any pest larvae deposited in the wood.
Limecoat must be renewed annually
Unfortunately, the lime coating is washed off by the rain, which means that the protective effect is lost. For this reason, you should paint the tree trunk white every year. The best time to paint is late autumn between October and November to get the full protection for the winter.
Tip
The lime paint is also suitable as a wound closure in the event of a cracked bark: simply paint the injured area with lime so that no pathogens can penetrate through the open wound and weaken the tree even more. Before doing so, however, the tree trunk should be carefully cleaned with a wire brush.