You may have frequently noticed that tree trunks in the streets and parks of the city are covered in a white layer. Although this might seem like a mere cosmetic act, it actually serves a much more important purpose.
So that you know what is the real reason behind this peculiar practice that ‘whitens the treesin The Truth News We will tell you everything you need to know about it, surely the answer will surprise more than one, so without further ado, let’s see all the details.
What is the paint used to paint the trunks of trees?
Although certainly the white color that is observed in the trunk of the trees allows us to assume that these are whistled with white paint, the reality is that this is not the case, since what is done is the “liming” processfor which, as its name indicates, lime is used (calcium hydroxide) to cover this part of the trees.
This is the reason why, when we place our hands, pockets, backpacks or any other item on the trees, they will fill with this whitish, sandy material.
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Why are the trunks painted white?
Several reports indicate that this is a traditional method that has been carried out for years as a practice inherited from fruit growing, which is presumed to be applied for various reasons that have as general purpose to ensure the proper development of trees.
In general, it is believed that whitewash tree trunksespecially those recently planted, grafted or pruned can protect them from solar radiationbecause this color reflects 100% of the light that can come from the sun, so it is thought that this could be beneficial for these small developing trees.
On the other hand, I also know specifically that one of the great benefits of liming trees is allowing them to assimilate nutrients in highly acidic soil.
According to one report, the process is carried out when the rain washes the lime from the trunk and, consequently, it dissolves in the soil. In doing so, since it is a basic component (calcium hydroxide), will raise the pH of the soil.
As specified, to facilitate the absorption of nutrients, a pH between 6 and 6.5 is necessary, which is believed to be achieved with the application of lime in the trunk of the treeshowever, with this method it is not possible to verify if instead of reaching said pH, the soil becomes alkaline, which would also be harmful for the trees.
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