Young trees have thin bark and can sometimes develop sunscald. It causes the bark to break down, and it can sometimes kill trees. When you know why sunscald on trees happens, you can take measures to prevent damage.
Oregon Arborist offers certified arborist services in Lafayette, OR, from tree trimming to emergency tree services. We can help identify and treat sunscald on your trees.
What is Sunscald?
Sunscald occurs in both winter and summer months, typically on younger trees with thin bark. Exposure to extreme temperatures causes visual damage to tree bark, called sunscald.
In Texas, trees experience high temperatures from direct sunlight during the day, followed by chilly nighttime temperatures, especially as seasons change. The constant temperature changes cause the bark to lose integrity and develop sunscald.
Fruit trees such as apple, cherry, and crabapple are especially prone to sunscald. Other deciduous trees such as birch, ash, maple, and willow also tend to suffer from sunscald, especially in early years.
Identifying Sunscald
To the untrained eye, sunscald may look like a typical bark texture.
Early-stage sunscald starts with minor bark damage. Vertical splits form on the trunk and easily go unnoticed. As late-stage sunscald develops, the appearance is much more drastic.
The cracks increase in size, destroying the bark and revealing deeper wood layers. If left untreated, severe bark damage can lead to tree death.
Protecting Trees From Sunscald
There is no remedy to reverse the damage of sunscald on trees. You can, however, protect trees before they develop leaf scorch and sunscald.
Wrap the Trunks
The most common way to shield trees from the effects of sunscald is to cover the lower part of the trunk in a light-colored tree wrap. Several options are available, including fabric, plastic, and paper. Paper tree wrap is a popular choice, as it is a natural material that looks similar to tree bark.
When covering trees, always choose a light color tree wrap. Dark colors absorb sunlight and will only contribute to sunscald.
Tree wrap stays in place until the tree grows bark thick enough to protect the tree from extreme temperatures and the branches can provide shade for the trunk.
Non-toxic, white paint applied to the tree trunk is a long-lasting alternative to tree wrap. White trunks lower the temperature of the trees. Painting trunks is a common practice in orchards.
Provide Adequate Water
Newly planted trees that receive an abundant amount of water in their first year tend to develop less sunscald than trees without an adequate water supply.
Adding mulch around the tree trunk helps keep the soil moist during hot summer temperatures. Do not apply mulch closer than two inches around the growing tree trunk.
Oregon Tree Care Services
If you think you have dead or dormant trees or if you want to prevent sunscald on trees, the Oregon Arborist team is available for a variety of tree care services. Call 503-899-4166 for a free estimate. We help you grow healthy trees and restore your beautiful outdoor space.