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Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall

As fall approaches, property owners need to appreciate the spectacular foliage of the season. While it is common…

Nov 02,2022

As fall approaches, property owners need to appreciate the spectacular foliage of the season. While it is common to see leaves change color this time of year, what does it mean for your trees? Working with a professional tree care company like Sesmas Tree Service is essential to ensure you maintain a lush and appealing landscape throughout the year. Understanding why foliage changes color goes a long way in providing the care your trees need.

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall

If you revisit middle school science lessons, chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants, cyanobacteria, and algae. The pigment plays a vital role in photosynthesis, which allows the conversion of light into energy. As summer ends and temperatures change, chlorophyll breaks down, forming varying pigments, such as orange, red, and yellow.

Foliage Colors in Fall

These colors are more vibrant at the beginning of autumn, when there are bright days and cool nights. To provide your trees with the proper care and maintenance, consult a trusted tree service to leverage their extensive industry knowledge and expertise. Let’s look at the reasons for the different foliage colors this fall.

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Land Clearing & Forestry Mulching Land Clearing & Forestry Mulching

Land Clearing & Forestry Mulching

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Tree Planting

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Tree Removal

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Stump Grinding

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Green–Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll plays a vital role in helping plants turn sunlight into energy. The green pigment is dominant for most of the months, but fall is when it fades away. When winter finally arrives, trees turn to stored sugar to survive the dormant season. Therefore, providing routine maintenance inspections ensures your trees remain in top-notch condition throughout the year.

Red–Anthocyanin

Red is the most noticeable sign on foliage, indicating changes in season. You know it is autumn when you see beautiful red maples, sumacs, and scarlet oaks. Most leaf colors exist within the leaf, but anthocyanin is produced as chlorophyll breaks down. If the trees listed are not found in your area, the chestnut oak is another anthocyanin you can check out this fall.

Orange – Carotene

Carotene is known as the chemical responsible for the orange color in carrots. However, only some know that it is also vital for changes in leaf color. If you have a super maple in your backyard, you can see carotene in action every fall. A professional tree care company can help you take better care of such trees by ensuring they are healthy throughout the year.

Yellow–Xanthophyll

Autumn is not the same without the magnificent yellow hues found on ashes, beeches, birches, aspens, and oaks. Xanthophyll is not limited to trees as it also contributes the yellow pigment to autumn squash and corn. With everything that goes on in the fall, from pumpkin-spiced dishes to football and the fantastic foliage, it's daunting to take on repairs and maintenance.

Customer Reviews

3 large Leyland Cypress trees removed near front of our home. Excellent service, professional crew, very competitive pricing for superior work! Rolando provided the initial estimate and the  follow up and was the best in terms of customer relations. I'd both use this company again AND highly recommend them.

Susan Hitchcock

This is the 2nd time we have used Sesmas Tree Service. They are a wonderful company to deal with. They were on time, professional, and very thorough. They cleaned up prior to leaving and went out of their way to protect our plants and landscaping. And they kept to their proposal with no hidden cost or add ons. Definitely a five star experience!

Gene McFadden

Wow!  I deal with tree services in my professional work and I can honestly say Sesmas is by far the most professional, best equipped, efficient, safety conscious, and communicative service I've ever encountered.  Their price was very reasonable and they even went so far as to include additional work without increasing the price.  Call them!  Now! They are very quick to respond.

Scott McLendon

We've used Sesmas several times and have always received excellent service.  Estimates are quick and easy and the crew is efficient and leaves the property clean of debris.  Recently we needed a tree removed next to a heavily landscaped area.  Sebastian went over everything with me in detail and listened to my concerns.  The crew did an excellent job in removing the tree with minimal disturbance to the surrounding area.  We are pleased and will consider them again in the future for pruning and tree removal.

Tonia Griswold

Sesmas Tree Service was amazing! I had two dead trees cut and a lot of trees that were already down on my property removed. Sebastian came out and sent the quote in writing within 24 hours. We were in the process of scheduling the service when a slot opened up sooner snd I was able to go ahead and get the work done. Everything was explained ahead of time for what to expect. The crew was very efficient and professional.  All of the work and cleanup was done in one day. I would recommend Sesmas for your tree cutting/cleanup needs.

LaDora Woods

I hired Sesmas to cut down a very tricky tree that was hanging over my house as well as a few large limbs. They did a great job and had the machinery to get the job done right.

Perry Hartman

Great experience with Sesmas. They were meticulous with my tree removal, safe and efficient. David’s communication throughout the process was much appreciated. Highly recommend!

Lindsay Ellenburg

Great experience with Sesmas Tree Service. The arborist who came out was a Board Certified Master Arborist, and you could immediately tell he knew his stuff. He took the time to explain what needed to be done, gave us clear options, and helped us feel confident from start to finish. The whole process was easy and professional. We’ll definitely use them again.

Ed Martin

Our tree service experts take this opportunity to provide the right amount of fertilizer, hydrate, and plant trees. We provide various services to help you maintain healthy trees without breaking the bank. Contact us at Sesmas Tree Service and schedule a consultation with our experienced team of arborists.

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