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The Science Behind Autumn Leaf Color and Drop

As leaves age, photosynthesis declines, reducing green chlorophyll. This reveals yellow carotenoids and red anthocyanins. Shorter days and cooler temperatures accelerate the process. When a leaf can no longer produce enough food, the tree sheds it. Winter dormancy is a genetically programmed energy-conservation strategy. Evergreens continue low-level photosynthesis year-round.

About Gardening: Powdery Mildew on Potted Cherry Seedlings: Indoor Fungus Control; Diagnosing Schefflera Leaf Drop: Root Rot, Watering Frequency, and Light Adjustment; Dogwood Leaf Spot in Fall: Pseudocercospora; Why Trees Are Grafted and Graft Union Concerns; Maple Tree Fall Color: 'Legacy' Sugar Maple or 'Autumn Blaze'; Fall Aphid Outbreaks: Identification, Natural Control, and Sooty Mold; Fall Leaf Color: Weather Trumps Fertilizer; Oak Leaf Miner Damage: Identification and Cleanup; Goldenrain Tree Seasonal Leaf Drop: Normal Compound Leaf Shedding; Fall Tree Limb Removal: Timing and Proper Three-Cut Technique

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