Tree Facts

Did you know that plants and trees can get sunburned? Much like our sunburn, if a tree or plant gets too much strong sunlight it can develop lesions, or damaged spots which allows diseases to enter the plant’s system. This is called sun-scald. Sun-scald, unlike sunburn, does not occur in summer, near the beach. It occurs in cold climates, where there are extremes of temperature. Tree sun-scald often occurs in young trees, because the sapling has a softer exterior, more influenced by sharp changes in weather. Once a plant has been damaged by sun-scald, it cannot be repaired. Prevention is the only cure. Sun-scald is a winter time injury to tree trunks caused by unseasonally warm weather. The sun is [...]

Australia is home to an enormous variety of Eucalyptus trees, which can grow to over 40 metres in height. Although they are naturally beautiful and house many species of Australian fauna, including koalas and possums, they can be a danger to humans in populated areas. Giant eucalypts have a habit of dropping heavy branches earning them the nickname of Widow Maker. These gum trees preserve their health during periods of drought or inadequate water supply by allowing some branches to dry out and break off – a sort of self pruning. As an increasing number of roads, buildings, concrete slabs and paths and other plants limit the availability and access to water for these tree giants, our suburban areas are [...]

Have you ever wondered how plants and trees know which way is up? Even when they are growing on the side of a steep hill trees still manage to point themselves to the sky. All plants have a way to interpret gravity and use that sense to send their roots downward and their branches upward. In the top of new shoot, and in the bottom of a root, a cluster of cells are found that are continually dividing and therefore responsible for new growth. Inside these cells are miniature starch granules which are affected by gravity. These starch granules will always sit in the bottom of the cell, so the cell knows which way is down. Using auxin, a plant [...]