Some of our weather watchers have submitted pictures to our email with leaves that are changing colors already. But its August could fall really be that close to us? The answer is yes and no. The official beginning to fall is not until the third week of September, and leaves typically do not change here until the middle of September. So what is going on with this early change?

There are a few things to consider here. First, there are some species of trees, such as the Swamp Maple, that naturally change their color early. Also, we need to consider the weather over the past 6 to 9 months. This past winter was one of the warmest on record, and we really lacked in the snow department. Therefore, plants and trees blossomed earlier then scheduled due to a quick spring warm up. However, there is still some speculation that trees would respond with an early color transition due to an “early” spring arrival.

What I can tell you, is the chemistry that is occurring in the leaves that would lead the reds and oranges you might see. In order for leaves to retain their green appearance, there are three factors that aid their lush pigment. Sun light, carbon dioxide, and water combine to generate chlorophyll, which is the main food source for leaves. If any of these three items are lacking, then chlorophyll will not be produced well. There is no deficiency in carbon dioxide, but the other two ingredients are deficient. Since the summer solstice in June, the amount of sunlight we see each day is decreasing, but at the moment, it’s not enough to shut off the production of chlorophyll.

The fact that we have not see much precipitation over the past six weeks has had a huge impact on the formation of chlorophyll. Therefore, the entire tree is not affected, but a part of it, that is why just a few leaves change and not the entire plant. Over the next few weeks, the amount of daylight will decrease even more and further impact the production of chlorophyll. At the moment, the dry pattern has decreased the formation of chlorophyll and once we head into September, limited sunlight will aid the change of color of every leaf on each tree.

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