When fall comes the trees start to look very different than before. The green leaves turn into bright shades of orange and red and yellow. There is a real reason for this shift that is easy to understand. It happens right before the leaves fall down to the cover the grass. Nature has a special way of changing things as the seasons move along.
The Green Machine Stops Working
In the summer trees are busy making food for themselves using a special green part of the leaf. This green stuff takes in sun and turns it into energy for the plant. It needs plenty of heat and bright light to keep working right.
Shorter Days Signal The Change
A tree knows exactly when the year is ending because it feels the daylight disappearing. It needs to protect itself before the ground freezes solid so it starts to change its routine as soon as the sun starts to go down earlier each evening.
The Tree Cuts Off Nutrients
When it gets cold trees know winter is coming so they build a tiny wall where the leaf meets the branch. This wall blocks water from getting inside the leaf. Because the leaf has no food the green color starts to fade away quickly.
Hidden Colors Are Finally Revealed
Yellow and orange stay inside leaves all year long. You just cannot see them because the green color is so strong. When the green part starts to fade away the other colors finally come out. It is like they were hiding behind a big green curtain.
Some Trees Make Red From Sugar
Trees make red colors from scratch every single year because they are not hidden like yellow. When cold weather hits the sugar gets stuck inside the leaf and then the bright sun turns that sweet stuff into a deep red color for everyone.
Weather Plays A Huge Role
Trees look the most red when the sun stays out and nights are fresh. You do not want the ground to freeze during this time. The weather mix of sun and cool air is the main reason for the colors. It makes the woods look very bright.
Warm Nights Can Dull The Show
Warm nights actually mess with how leaves change. When the air stays hot after the sun goes down trees get confused and they stop making the bright red colors we like to see. This makes the forest look kind of brown and dull instead of pretty.
It Is About Saving Energy
The main reason leaves fall is to help the tree save its precious food. Keeping leaves through the winter uses up too much water. The tree drops them so it can rest. This keeps the tree safe and sound until the weather turns nice again.
The Brown Color Means It Is Over
When the bright colors go away the sun breaks down everything left inside the leaf. Only stuff called tannins stay behind. These leftovers make the leaf turn brown and get really dry. Then it just falls off the tree onto the cold ground.
The Leaves Feed The Future
Once the leaves land they start to rot and become part of the soil. This helps the tree find enough strength to make new green buds. The forest uses its own waste to stay healthy and keep growing year after year for us.
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