My neighbour always paints his fruit tree trunks white before the first frosts and it’s not to keep insects away

My neighbour always paints his fruit tree trunks white before the first frosts and it's not to keep insects away

Your neighbor’s annual ritual of painting fruit tree trunks white isn’t primarily about pest control—it’s an ancient trick to prevent sunscald and frost cracks caused by extreme temperature swings. This practice, dating back to ancient Egypt, reflects winter sunlight to keep bark temperature stable and has become standard in commercial orchards worldwide.