Reasons for Painting Tree Trunks White Whitewashing tree trunks can help prevent damage to young saplings and even mature trees. Though it’s not necessary for every tree, it is a time-honored ...

Painting the trunk with a 1:1 mix of white latex paint and water helps reflect sunlight and keeps the bark temperature stable. It's like giving your tree its own SPF 50.

The paint color should be white or another light color that helps reflect the sunlight off the trunk. One should never use acrylic or oil based paint, which could harm or even kill the tree.