---
title: "Hi everyone I don’t have a good record of caring for plants but I’m…"
description: "Hi everyone I don’t have a good record of caring for plants but I’m desperately trying to maintain our yard. Can anyone help me figure out what’s happening to…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/AO6Dqcvv2FW4z88YIMIj4l"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Mich"
published: "2025-09-08T18:43:29.046575Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MJk1iLxzce2ySnE7cps0ixIwg46_5T3iQiSls2AiTIU/O-0jfOrvSXiimLFI9oASZA.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi everyone I don’t have a good record of caring for plants but I’m…

_Posted by Mich on 2025-09-08_

Hi everyone I don’t have a good record of caring for plants but I’m desperately trying to maintain our yard. Can anyone help me figure out what’s happening to my shunmard oak tree? The bark on the trunk is cracked and lifting.  
We’re in Arizona so it does get hot in the summer, easily triple digits most days. And the plant is in full sun. We have an automatic drip system to the tree, and add fertilizer and mulch every 6months. I don’t see any signs of larvae or bugs. The side of the trunk that is splitting/lifting is sun facing, the back side of the tree never gets direct sunlight isn’t splitting at all.  
Is this sun-scald? How do I help the tree?

![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MJk1iLxzce2ySnE7cps0ixIwg46_5T3iQiSls2AiTIU/O-0jfOrvSXiimLFI9oASZA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MJk1iLxzce2ySnE7cps0ixIwg46_5T3iQiSls2AiTIU/7S_DOUrgR46DTUenLxEPsQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MJk1iLxzce2ySnE7cps0ixIwg46_5T3iQiSls2AiTIU/4rkY2T9RQZ-2H6LOfkcCDA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MJk1iLxzce2ySnE7cps0ixIwg46_5T3iQiSls2AiTIU/PHPvciGLT3SzTuqMe3D81Q.webp?size=large)

## 1 comment

### Waspinator commented on 2025-09-08

Yep that's sunscald. Sterilize some cutters and remove the loose bark (cut it back until you hit live wood.) Knock away any insects you find hiding under there (water under some pressure can spray them away.) You can treat the exposed deadwood with a fungicide if mold or mushrooms are an issue in the area. Remove mulch/soil to expose the section where the roots spread; trees need that area uncovered to get plenty of oxygen

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