Sunburn

You might be surprised to learn that your plants can get sunburned just as you can. Well, it is a little different, but too much sun can be deadly either way.

Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, but too much of a good thing can be destructive. Sunburn damages plant tissue and provides entry points for pests and diseases.


When leaves first get too much sun, chlorosis (yellowing) occurs. Sometimes the leaves can recover. But a significant sunburn causes irreparable browned areas, usually between the veins. Sunburned fruit looks brown and leathery.


​When tree bark gets too much sun, it is called sunscald. Sunscald can kill a tree.

Sunburned bell pepper (Kate Russell)

Damaged bark blisters and cracks, exposing internal tissue to pests and disease. 

Sun scald damages exposed bark (Kate Russell)

You can prevent sunscald by painting tree trunks and exposed branches with a 1:1 dilution of water and white latex paint. Do not use enamel paint because the tree needs to breathe. This whitewashing will help prevent winter sunscald, as well.

Whitewashed nectarine tree in full bloom (Kate Russell)

Selecting plant varieties suited to your microclimate and placing them well are good ways to avoid sunburn and sunscald. Properly irrigated plants are less likely to be sunburned.


Be sure to water your plants thoroughly this summer (especially on July 4th) to help protect against sunburn, sunscald, and bottle rockets.