Trees seem to be dropping their leaves early this year. It seems that the reverse would be true, considering all of the rain we have had. What is the explanation?
Great observation and true. There are more leaves down earlier this year than in the last four years. It all comes back to water and how trees set up their leaf loss. It takes water to shed leaves. The thin layer of cells at the base of the leaf stem requires adequate water to break and weaken cell wall connections. In drought years fewer leaves fall early although they may all fall at once sooner than normal in the fall. In years with good moisture the leaves with disease and insect injuries are shed early while the productive leaves are kept on.
Related Questions
- Trees seem to be dropping their leaves early this year. It seems that the reverse would be true, considering all of the rain we have had. What is the explanation?
- More questions then Jane: Did the leaves come on the tree and then die as if burned by fire? Did you fertilize the trees?
- How many trees in a rain forest?
