Sunscald damage happens to trees in winter and early spring when the sun heats up the bark before the tree is ready. Young trees are especially susceptible to sunscald damage, so you should take steps to prevent it early on. Read on to learn more about sunscald damage and how to prevent it.
What Sunscald Looks Like
Sunscald causes split bark on the trunk and main branches of the tree. The tree will usually heal over the open part of the wound, creating a rounded edge to protect the exposed part of the tree. However, the split will always be visible once it occurs.
How Sunscald Damage Occurs
Sunscald damage occurs under the following conditions:
- The tree is in dormancy due to winter temperatures
- There may be snow on the ground
- The days are warm and sunny
- Temperatures plummet back into freezing range at night
If these conditions are met, cells in the outer tree bark will heat up during the day and start to come out of dormancy. When temperatures dip again at night, the bark will split from the sharp fluctuation in temperature.
Sunscald damage usually affects young trees and trees with soft bark. The damage it causes to the trunk and main branches of the tree cannot be undone and can happen year after year.
How to Prevent Sunscald
You can prevent sunscald by wrapping your young trees with a white cloth to reflect the sunlight away from the bark in the winter. However, the cloth must be removed before the growing season, or it can damage the tree.
Another way you can prevent sunscald is by painting the trunk and main branches with a white latex paint to reflect the sunlight away. Our arborists recommend this method because sometimes people forget to remove the wrapping when they use the white cloth method. This can stunt the tree’s growth and create an environment for insects and diseases to thrive.
Sunscald can only be prevented with tree wraps or white latex paint, but other common tree ailments can be treated by Stewart’s Tree Service. Stewart’s Tree Service offers treatments for various diseases and insects in addition to fertilizer treatments. Call or text our office at 801-226-2261 for a free quote and more information.