Protect Your Plants from Sunburn with These Easy Tips

Sunburn is no laughing matter! Sure, in hindsight it might make for a funny story, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s downright miserable. And guess what? We're not the only ones who suffer under the summer sun, plants can get sunburned too.

On a hot summer’s day, plants that aren’t prepared for excessive sun exposure can start looking wilted, crispy, or develop brown patches. It can lead to serious damage to leaf cells, reduced soil moisture, and stress to the entire plant. This gets even worse when combined with low humidity, dry weather, and a string of cloudless days.

The good thing is, there are plenty of easy ways to prevent this. Here are some hard-earned tips, learned through seasons of trial and error, to help protect your outdoor plants from sunburn damage, while still giving them enough light for healthy growth.

1. Choose Native or Heat-Adapted Plants

This is a more proactive measure than the rest, but it’s important to remember that not all plants are built for high heat and intense light. Native varieties often have physical features like waxy coatings, leaf hairs, and thick cuticles that naturally reduce water loss and reflect UV rays. These adaptations help them withstand dry conditions and low nighttime temperatures, so the key is to design a resilient garden from the beginning.

2. Watch for Signs of Sunburn Early

Another proactive measure is to watch for blotchy brown patches, crisp leaf edges, and curling along the main leaf veins often show up first on uppermost foliage. Sunburn tends to strike the upward-facing side of a branch or leaf, particularly where there’s no shade during peak sun exposure. 

3. Roll Sensitive Plants to a Shady Spot

Rolling planters are a summer garden essential. In orchards or paved areas where heat bounces off the ground, the sun can be especially brutal. When rays become too intense, particularly in early summer or during unexpected heat spikes the rolling planters can be wheeled into a shady corner for reliable refuge.

4. Use Tall, Heat-Tolerant Plants to Cast Shade

In raised garden beds, tall crops or flowers like okra, corn, and sunflowers pull double duty. These sturdy, heat-tolerant plants offer not just harvests, but structure. The trick is to position them on the west side of a bed, to shield smaller and more delicate crops like arugula, lettuce, or basil from the harshest afternoon sun. Their height creates natural, dappled shade while allowing airflow. 

5. Cover the Greenhouse with a Tarp or Shade Cloth

This one is a bit more niche, but even greenhouses can overheat, especially in late spring, on hot spring days, or during midsummer afternoons. They can quickly turn into ovens. Throwing a light-colored tarp or securing shade cloth across the top helps reflect excess light and moderate internal temperatures.

6. Bring Houseplants Indoors During Heatwaves

Houseplants that spend summer outside such as snake plants, pothos, and monsteras are not immune to sunburn. Sudden spikes in sunlight or prolonged exposure to bright, dry conditions can leave their leaf margins scorched. Keeping them in planters or large containers makes it easier to move them. Bringing pots indoors to a bright spot, even for just a few days, often prevents long term damage. Sheer curtains and east-facing windows provide plenty of indirect sunlight and work well for temporary shelter.

7. Water in the Morning for Better Soil Moisture

Moisture loss accelerates dramatically during peak sun hours. Watering early in the morning gives roots a chance to soak in what they need before the heat sets in while midday watering may cause water droplets to magnify sunlight on the leaves, increasing the risk of scorch.

8. Mulch to Lock in Moisture and Cool the Soil

A thick layer of mulch acts like a protective blanket for the roots and helps keep the soil cool. The best mulch comes from organic materials like wood chips, straw, and even coconut coir. All of them help retain soil moisture, shield roots from temperature swings, and minimize water evaporation.

9. Use Temporary Row Covers or Shade Tunnels

When the forecast predicts several days of extreme heat, more man-made solutions can come in handy. In these cases, quick shade makes all the difference! Old bedsheets, lightweight row covers, or even patio umbrellas can be repurposed as makeshift shelters. Especially useful for young trees, leafy greens, or transplants that are still adjusting to a new bed.

Final Thoughts

Plants are tough, but they need our help to beat the summer sun, especially with the uncommonly sudden changes in weather we’ve experienced in the past few years. Remember, the best option isn’t always expensive or high-tech. Sometimes it’s just wheeling a pot into a new location, throwing up a quick tarp, or letting a sunflower do the shielding for you.