If you’re anything like me, and you love nature then continue to read, and if you’re not continue to read anyway. So I’ve noticed lately that the leaves were falling off the trees, and were still green. which caught me by surprise because usually leaves don’t fall until they’re brown, gold, or red. What i came to find out thanks to the columbusdispatch.com is that…
A lack of moisture over the last couple months has accelerated the falling of the leaves before they transition through their full range of color, according to Joe Cochran, director/curator of the Secrest Arboretum at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster.
“The dryness is causing leaves to fall earlier than normal,” Cochran said. “The lack of moisture is critical during this time when trees are shutting down.”
As the days grow shorter, chlorophyll stored in the leaves absorbs less and less sunlight which produces less energy through the process of photosynthesis. The tree transitions into a hardening-off process to prepare for the cold winter, creating callouses where the leaves fall from the branches.
“The trees have made all the food they need and the energy is being used to harden the tree for the winter,” Cochran said.
So to all my tree huggers go get your hugs in now before the leaves are all gone.
Follow ya #radiobae @thedopedixon
