In the sun-drenched plantations of Palakkad, a striking sight often catches the eye: coconut tree trunks neatly painted in white up to a height of about four feet. Far from being a mere aesthetic ...

Q: My dad helped me plant a couple of young apple trees in my backyard last weekend and so far, so good. After we finished I said the only thing I had left to do was paint the trunks white. He looked ...

Most people worry about frost killing their trees in January. Far fewer think about what a relentless July sun can do to bark. Summer sunscald is quieter than a storm, less dramatic than a pest ...

IF YOU are a regular reader, you will know of my weird fascination with traditional horticultural practices that endure for decades despite being resoundingly debunked by science. In this article, ...

Q. I recently moved to Redding and everywhere I go I see tree trunks that look like they’ve been painted white. I even saw some that were painted a light blue. Can you tell me why folks do this? A.

You're enjoying a peaceful hike in the woods surrounded by lush greenery, including a lone tree with a red marking spray-painted on its trunk. It's easy to dismiss as the work of vandals (ugh, why can ...