What Makes Leaves Change Colors in Fall

Posted on October 13th, 2016

When people think of the fall, they often associate the season with cooler, crisp weather, Halloween candy, and of course, the vivid color changes of the leaves. From yellow and red, to purple and orange, the autumn season leaves us hypnotized every year. If you’ve ever wondered just how come the leaves change with the season, allow us to explain:

Leaf Pigmentation 101

• Chlorophyll: Leaves appear to be green in the spring and summer because they contain an abundance of chlorophyll. This chemical absorbs sunlight for energy to metabolize carbon dioxide and water. Light regulates chlorophyll production, which is why, when autumn rolls around, and the days grow shorter, less chlorophyll is produced and the green color fades.

• Anthocyanins: Most anthocyanins are produced in autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars within the leaf cell. Leaves containing primarily anthocyanin pigments will appear red. This pigment is also seen in familiar foods like cranberries, red apples, and strawberries.

• Carotenoids: Carotenoids are another class of pigments found in leaves. Unlike anthocyanin production, carotenoid pigmentation is not dependent on light, so levels aren’t diminished by shortened days. Leaves found with this pigmentation can be orange or red, but are mostly yellow. This pigment is also seen in corn, carrots, and daffodils.

The Effects of the Weather

• • Temperature and Light: Cool – but not freezing – sunny days will bring out the most beautiful color displays. A lot of sunlight will increase sugar production which leads to an increased production of anthocyanin pigments; lots of reds, purples, and crimson colors! Carotenoids are always present in leaves, so the yellow and gold colors remain fairly constant each year.

• Water Supply: The combination of temperature and water supply assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike. A drought in the summer or a warm period during the fall can both delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. You want warm and sunny fall days with cool nights to produce beautiful autumn colors.

Enjoy the beauty of the autumn colors while you can – it only occurs for a brief time each year!

And, if these beautiful leaves have begun to fall on your landscape and you need some help – contact the professionals at Turf Unlimited. We offer a variety of professional lawn maintenance and shrub care services to help you keep your lawn looking lush year round. Call 888-649-9919.