Home » Gardening Basics » Gardening Problems » Heat Protection

How to Protect Citrus Bark from Sunburn

By: Angela Judd | May 10, 2025

In my own neighborhood—right in the heart of Arizona’s citrus corridor—I’ve watched too many beautiful citrus trees meet a sad fate. They’re pruned too harshly, their bark left fully exposed, and then the summer heat sets in. Without protection, the bark sunburns, begins to peel or split, branches die back, and eventually the tree dies. Then it’s cut down and hauled away. It’s so frustrating to watch it happen, especially because it’s preventable. Learning how to protect citrus bark from sunburn is one of the most effective ways to help your tree survive.

Three photos show tree trunks and branches with visible bark damage, exposing lighter inner wood and rough, peeling bark in a grassy outdoor area.

We can’t control how others prune their citrus trees, but we can protect our own.

Why Citrus Bark Needs Protection

Citrus trees weren’t meant to look like lollipops. That’s one of the most common citrus mistakes—over-pruning and exposing the trunk. Citrus naturally grows like a dense bush, and the lower canopy acts like a natural sunscreen for the bark. But when we “skirt” the tree or prune too aggressively, the trunk is left vulnerable.

Three images show hands holding compost, a wheelbarrow with shredded bark mulch and a scoop, and a pile of wood chips, all used as garden mulches.

The problem? Citrus bark is highly susceptible to sunburn, especially in hot, dry climates like Arizona. Sunburned bark can peel or split, leading to long-term damage, disease, and insect problems. Once the bark is gone, the tree can’t transport nutrients effectively, and that often marks the beginning of the end.

So if your citrus bark is exposed, you need to cover it.

How to Protect Citrus Bark from Sunburn

A can of Arizona’s Best Tree Trunk White paint and a roll of DeWitt Tree Wrap held in a hand, side by side against leafy green backgrounds—ideal to paint or wrap citrus bark and protect it from sunscald.

There are two simple and effective ways to protect citrus bark:

1. Use Tree Wrap

This is my personal favorite. I like to think of citrus wrap like a swim shirt for your tree. (As a mom of five kids swimming through Arizona summers, I always reached for the swim shirts—they covered more and protected better.)

A person wraps citrus tree wrap around the base of a small tree trunk planted in soil, with green foliage nearby.

Look for a breathable, stretchable citrus tree wrap that allows air flow while shielding bark from direct sunlight. This is the one I use on Amazon. The wrap naturally expands as the tree grows, so it won’t damage the trunk or restrict circulation. That flexibility is important.

A tree trunk wrapped with white fabric stands in a garden with soil and mulch at its base; leaves and a single lemon are visible.

In my Arizona garden, I usually need to replace the wrap every 2–3 years. The intense sun causes it to break down and disintegrate over time. You can peel off the old wrap if it’s splitting and falling apart, or simply wrap it over the top of it. Either way, keeping it updated is a simple step that makes a big difference in preventing citrus bark peeling, cracking, and sunburn.

A hose releases water onto soil covered with dry leaves and twigs.

2. Paint Citrus Bark

If you prefer a quicker method, use a water-based, light-colored paint (specially formulated for citrus or any latex interior white paint diluted 1:1 with water). It reflects sunlight and acts as a sunscreen to prevent sunscald. Just be sure to use water-based paint only—never oil-based. This is the one I use on Amazon.

Side Note: Covering citrus bark by painting or wrapping is a great garden task for older kids or teenagers. It often made it onto my own kids’ Saturday chore list! It’s simple, important, and gives them a chance to contribute to the health of the garden. An entrepreneurial child might even offer to paint bark for neighbors, especially in areas with lots of citrus trees.

Looking for more ideas to get kids involved in the garden? Check out my post on gardening with kids.

Bonus tip: Cover bark before summer heat intensifies. And always check your trees after pruning or in early spring to see if wrap or paint needs to be reapplied.

A small orange tree with several ripe oranges growing in a garden bed, surrounded by mulch and small purple flowers.

When Should You Cover Citrus Bark?

After pruning, especially if you’ve removed lower branches or frost-damaged limbs. Learn more about protecting citrus from freezing temperatures.
Each spring, as part of your seasonal garden prep—along with tasks like fertilizing citrus and checking for suckers and water sprouts.
Any time bark is exposed, don’t wait for signs of damage like cracking or peeling. It’s easier to prevent it than to fix it.

Read this guide for more tips on how to get your garden ready for summer.

While You’re at It… Check the Label

A person uses a vacuum-like tool to clear fallen leaves and debris from the ground beneath fruit trees in a garden.

While you’re checking the citrus wrap or bark paint, it’s also a great time to check your tree label. Has it faded or fallen off? Does it need to be moved to a larger branch as the tree grows? Keeping your fruit trees labeled makes it easy to remember what variety you planted, especially when you’re tracking ripening times or planning for harvests.

I like to use these durable aluminum labels from Amazon that hold up well in the Arizona sun. Learn more about how and why to label your trees in this post: How to Label Fruit Trees.

Maintain a Healthy Canopy

A dry creek bed made of reddish rocks runs between green shrubs and mulch in a landscaped garden.

One of the best ways to avoid sunburn in the first place? Don’t over-prune. Maintain a full, healthy canopy that shades the trunk naturally. Citrus doesn’t need to be “cleaned up”. Remember, it’s more of a shrub than a tree in structure. Read more in my fruit tree pruning guide.

A dense green orange tree with abundant leaves and some small unripe oranges, standing on a gravel surface outdoors.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your citrus tree’s bark by painting the bark or wrapping it might seem like a small step, but it’s a crucial one, especially in hot climates. Whether you use tree wrap or citrus paint, it’s a quick and easy way to help your tree survive and thrive through the summer. Don’t skip it!