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Plants that receive too much sun get leaf scorch, sunburn and heat stress. (Photo provided/Chuck Martin)
Plants that receive too much sun get leaf scorch, sunburn and heat stress. (Photo provided/Chuck Martin)
Plants that receive too much sun get leaf scorch, sunburn and heat stress. (Photo provided/Chuck Martin)
Plants that receive too much sun get leaf scorch, sunburn and heat stress. (Photo provided/Chuck Martin)
To most of the world’s population, it is generally accepted that sun exposure can cause sunburn, wrinkling of the skin, skin spots, eye damage and skin cancer. In fact protecting yourself from the sun is something that needs to be done throughout the year. The days when people lay out in the sun are long gone because of the realization of all the damage the sun does to one’s skin and health.
Plants rely on the sun for energy and to produce carbohydrates through a process we have termed photosynthesis. The word was formed by using the word photo, which means light, and synthesis because of the production carbohydrates. The process of photosynthesis also captures energy from the sun for the plant to use.
Because of this need of plants for sunlight, it would seem reasonable that a plant could never get too much sunlight. But too much sunlight can be detrimental to the growth of a plant and cause physical damage. It is just like coffee is essential to be able to function every morning but too much coffee will cause hyperactivity causing you to spend late nights organizing your dresser drawers.
Signs of a plant receiving too much sun can be seen by leaf scorch, sunburn and heat stress. Every plant is different about how much sun it can tolerate just like every person has a different tolerance of coffee.
Plants that have recently been planted are more susceptible to the stresses that are caused by the sun. They have fewer roots and most disposed to the damage of the sun. The main avenue to prevent sun damage on plants is to keep them well watered since it is hard to put sun screen on the leaves. Too much loss of water through the leaves by the sun will cause leaves to turn brown and scorch. Well water plants will transpire water through the leaves’ stomata. This helps the leaf surface to be cooler and prevent leaf scorch and burn.
In mild cases of sun scorch plants will not lose their leaves and can quickly rebound from this stress. In more severe cases plants will lose their leaves. This causes the plants to become weak and more susceptible to diseases and insects.
Leaves grown in the sun tend do have a thicker cuticle or protective covering to safeguard against disease, insects and the heat of the sun. The cuticle on leaves in the shade is much thinner and thus more susceptible to sun damage. When plants grown in the shade are given direct sun they often scorch and burn. So if you remove a tree or shrub that is protecting plants under them, you will often see those plants leaves wilt and turn brown.
Herbicides and insecticides can also contribute to sun scorch. Be aware of spraying on windy days so that drift does not affect susceptible plants.
Sun burn or leaf scorch symptoms will start out by a yellowing or darkening of leaf margins and then turning brown. If environmental conditions continue the leaves will become brown and brittle. As conditions continue the leaves will often drop off.
Since leaf scorch and leaf drop cause by the strong rays of the sun often times occur in late summer, the defoliation will not cause death to the plants. This premature dropping of leaves does cause stress. The premature dropping of leaves will weaken the plants if it occurs several continuous years and make plants more susceptible to disease and insect problems.
In the winter, evergreen plants can become susceptible to sun scorch. The wind and sun can dry out the foliage. At his time the ground is frozen and thus there is no water to replace the transpiration of the leaves. This is why many times people put on custom made clothing made of burlap on their evergreens in the winter. The burlap is not a winter coat to keep the plants warm.
The main preventative to sun scorch on plants is keeping the plants well water. This is to insure the plant leaves don’t dry out and transpiration creates a cooling effect for the leaves
A layer of mulch around plants will help maintain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps in the winter to prevent the ground from freezing and thawing. This will give the evergreens constant moisture they need to help prevent leaf scorch.
Trees become more susceptible to sun scald when their roots are damaged. If you have construction or people driving across your lawn, roots may have been damaged. Keep an eye on plants that might have had root damage due to transplanting, construction or soil compaction.
Even though sun scald in most cases is not a death sentence it will reduce the health of your plants making it more susceptible to insects and diseases. It hurts plants like sun burn hurts humans. You should keep yourself well hydrated when you are in the sun. Do the same for your plants if you see wilt and browning of leaves.
Senior Horticulturist Chuck Martin is grounds manager of Whiting Forest.
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September 07, 2020 at 09:18PM
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Chuck Martin: Too much sun is not good for plants - Midland Daily News
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