Why are my trees dropping leaves in summer?
You may be a bit concerned if your yard suddenly looks like fall has come early, with tree leaves turning yellow and dropping like crazy. In most cases it’s not something to worry about as there are a few common reasons that trees drop leaves in summer.
The most benign reason is simply adaptation to conditions. Trees do react to the environment and adapt their growth accordingly.
Trees grow leaves in spring based on the conditions at the time. Locally, spring 2022 was wet and temperatures were moderate, and trees’ response was “Pleasant temperatures and plenty of water. Perfect conditions! Grow leaves, lots and lots of leaves!”
Then, our almost-daily rain—that’s what it felt like at least—stopped at almost exactly the same time as our normal summer heat hit. Now the trees’ response is “Yikes, hot and dry, I’ve got too many leaves losing too much water! Dump some quick!
Of course every tree doesn’t react this way, as some tree species are less tolerant of hot humid weather and react more quickly. Even trees of the same species planted in different conditions can react differently. Newly planted (within a year or two) trees are particularly prone to drop as they haven't formed as many roots as mature trees. Remember to water your new trees regularly for at least the first two years and during dry spells indefinitely to minimize leaf drop.
