Painting Trees

[Khandro]

A lot of trees, 3 to 4 metres in height, have been planted along the roadside near me, I think they may be some type of maple. They have been painted white as far as the first branches - about 2 metres up.
What is the purpose of this and is it a special paint? I remember this once being done to fruit trees.

[RATTER15]

Its usually done to protect the bark of young trees to prevent them from splitting I believe.

[Baldric]

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/painting-tree-trunks-white.htm

[Khandro]

Thanks, I'm thinking of doing it to an apple tree I have. It was in poor shape and the fruit was shriveled last year. In the autumn I cut 90% of the branches off and sprayed everything else with a fungicide, what is left is now in leaf and some blossom and I was wondering if painting the bole might be a further help in trying to save it.
What's 'latex-based paint' mentioned in the link?

[RATTER15]

To be honest I have never seen it done myself and I worked as a tree surgeon for a very reputable company for 5 years.

I think it is of very little value and wouldn't bother!
If you have pruned it correctly you should see a great improvement this year. I have just cut down my two apple trees, not great apples and the hounds were eating too many fallen apples, the trees were also diseased.

[Chipchopper]

I'm with Ratters on this.
This is often seen in warmer climes, with the idea that the paint will reflect strong sunlight, thus preventing the trunks from drying out too fast and splitting.

[atalanta]

This is done in some places in the tropics. Trees all along the roadsides are painted white. It certainly makes driving at night a lot safer where there are no streetlights.