Been thinking about it for over a year, have plenty of both white and brown bark paint used on citrus. Well don't wait like I did, it was very obvious by the third day that the newly painted stems had a huge effect on growth, every plant perked up and they were looking pretty good already. Would like to hear what others have experienced.

Edit: To be a bit more clear I am referring to stems or branches that are exposed to hot noon time sun, thus the reference to bark paint.

Why paint the figs?  I have never heard of this...

What type of paint would that be, and what type might harm figs? (oil, latex or water based)???

Thanks Paul...

Larry,

In parts of Europe ( Greece especially) almost all the olive and citrus trunks are painted white...

I have painted a few trees, mostly because it really does help with insect and critter damage.

I had 3 Muscadine vines girdled by something (???). After spaying for grape root borer, painted them to cover the wood. I once used tree yet in Florida....BAD choice. The sun bakes the now darker tree and can kill it.

The AZ sun is so strong, even our native trees get sunburned! (I'm thinking of palo verdes here)

I don't have any experience with a fast growth spurt after painting, but I now paint exposed trunks on all of my trees because it is just too sad to see them get damaged. This year I am doing a light green paint and it is a little easier on the eyes - diluted 50% with water.

I suppose in a good microclimate an exposed trunk that gets shade would not burn here. I am letting my trees grow as bushes, but until they can shade themselves I will help them out with "sunscreen".

The Arizona figs have spoken!