Heat Stroke in Trees
University Outreach Publication
Summer has provided a number of hot and dry weeks for people and trees. Many of the old, young, and soil-limited trees have been damaged. The combination of drought and harsh site conditions provided in parking lots, along streets, on open squares, and surrounding pavement have led to a number of tree symptoms. The old term "heat stroke" fits trees where heat loads have been extreme and caused problems.
Trees have optimum growing conditions across the range of temperatures from 70°F to 85°F. Hot temperatures can injure and kill living tree systems. A thermal death threshold is reached at approximately 115°F. The thermal death threshold varies depending upon the duration of hot temperatures, the absolute highest temperature reached, tissue age, thermal mass, water content of tissue, and ability of the tree to make adjustments to temperature changes.
(FOR99-024) September 1999
Kim D. Coder
1999
University of Georgia School of Forest Resources
Athens, GA
9
Click here to open, view, or download this resource as a PDF
Abiotic Factors, Critical Root Zone (CRZ), Ecological Linkages, Evapotranspiration, Forest Health, Heat Island, Infrastructure (green), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Landscape Design, Plant Health Care, Respiration, Stress & Stressors, Biology (tree), Diagnosis and Treatment, Health (tree)
International
Leaf characteristics, Stress, Impervious surfaces
