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Fall FoliageChanging Colors • Growing Season • Plant in Fall • Other Plants with Fall Color • Peak Colors • Then They All Fall Down
The first inkling that fall is here are the colorful sweetgum trees that beginning dotting the woods and roadsides. While sweetgum trees have a bad reputation for their troublesome fruits, they are one of the showiest trees in the fall. They lead the way, and others soon begin following. Yet why is it that some trees are so colorful, and others simply turn brown. And what caused them to start changing colors and get ready for winter? Indian legend says that leaves change from green to red in the fall when celestial hunters slay the Great Bear. Other leaves are turned yellow by fat splattering out of the kettle as the meat is cooked. There is another, somewhat more scientific reason. Most leaves are green during the growing season. There are some plants such as purple leaf plum, some Japanese red maples and barberries, which have colorful foliage all season, but most plants have chlorophyll hiding their other colors. The chlorophyll gives leaves their green color and is what is within the cells that manufacture food, through a process called photosynthesis. As fall approaches, the days get shorter, and the nights get cooler. This starts the shift toward dormancy. When the trees start slowing down in growth, they can’t use the food that is produced by the leaves. There is then a buildup of sugars, which in turn, triggers the breakdown of chlorophyll. As the chlorophyll begins to beak down, the natural colors, or pigments are allowed through. The type of growing season we have, available moisture and gradual temperature changes, all play a part in how pretty our fall foliage is. Some years killer drought gives us a fairly quick fall, since many trees shed their leaves early. In years with ample rains we have a pretty fall. Frosts play no part in fall colors. In fact, it actually damages the compounds that produce the fall colors, encouraging leaf shed. Cool night time temperatures, especially in the 40's and 50's, do help with fall color. Different trees contain different pigments. To be sure of fall color, you may want to choose a tree in the fall. And fall, is an ideal time to plant. Many people erroneously think that all trees of one species turn brilliant hues in the fall. Not true. A good example is red maples. Some native trees do turn a beautiful shade of red in the fall, others go yellow or even brown. To be guaranteed of a pretty fall tree, either buy a named variety such as ‘Autumn Flame’ or ‘Red Sunset’, or buy a pretty one in the fall. Some families of plants may be counted on for fall color more reliably than others. Dogwoods, sweetgums, black gums, sassafras, and the ornamental pears usually have brilliant shades of reds or purples. Gingko and Tulip trees usually turn a brilliant yellow. Sugar maples have earned a reputation for spectacular fall color, but are not the easiest of trees for growing in central and south Arkansas due to summer heat. Japanese maples and many red maples are beautiful in the fall. Trees alone are not responsible for pretty displays in the fall. Burning bush (Euonymus alata) has a phenomenal red show in the fall. Sumac dots highways statewide with deep reds, in addition to their showy cones of fruit. Witch hazel and oakleaf hydrangea turn shades of yellow and orange, and viburnums often have showy leaves. One of the prettiest shows is unfortunately a pest--poison ivy often turns bright red. And while deciduous plants often give us the biggest show, some evergreens will change with the season. Many azaleas will turn bronze colored in the fall, and nandinas take on lovely shades of red and purple. Fall color usually appears in a brief span of time. It typically peaks in Arkansas from mid October to early November. It all depends on our growing season and fall temperatures. The Arkansas State Parks Department keeps up with it each year, as do local chamber of commerces. There are many scenic routes you can take for fall color, in fact almost any where you drive in Arkansas in the fall is beautiful. But there are designated scenic highways. Once the show is over, the leaves will begin to fall in earnest. What was a painters palette of colors, turns into bare limbs, and your job begins. Raking of fall leaves is an annual chore. Whether you mulch the leaves or bag them, you need to get them off the lawn. Composting is a great way to turn the leaves into usable compost to help enrich your gardens. Shredded leaves make a great mulch. Fall foliage marks the end of our growing season and the onset of winter. So get outside and enjoy the crisp, fall weather, and the show that Mother Nature has provided. |
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
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The
green landscape is beginning to change colors with a variety of hues, from reds
to purples and oranges. Fall is on the horizon, and heralding the encroaching
winter is the seasonal wonder of fall foliage. 