Bavarian Garden Experts Advise on Sun Damage Prevention

When temperatures rise above 30 °C and sunlight is intense, plant tissue can heat up to 50 °C, causing sunburn and growth problems. The Bayerische Gartenakademie notes that young vegetable, beet and balcony plants are especially vulnerable, with symptoms ranging from soft spots on berries to blossom end rot in tomatoes, peppers and zucchini, and rapid wilting of roses and dark‑flowered ornamentals.

To protect plants, gardeners are urged to check soil moisture before watering, use mulch such as nettles, grass clippings or crop residues to shield soil, and apply a white paint or lime wash to tree trunks to reflect sunlight. The Landesbund für Vogel‑ und Naturschutz in Bayern recommends covering soil in beds and avoiding heavy pruning that exposes foliage. Additional measures include raising mowing height for mutual shading, shading dark pots with umbrellas, and briefly relocating potted plants to cooler spots.

These practical steps aim to reduce heat stress and prevent sun‑induced damage during increasingly hot summer spells.