Leaves changing color is easily one of the most beautiful aspects of fall. It’s a natural decor change in your backyard. How neat is that? But how exactly do the leaves change their colors and how does it affect your to-list in the fall? If you’re spending any time outside in Nashville right now, you’ve noticed the change has already happened. With cooler nights and shorter daylight hours, the foliage on branches is slowly starting to turn orange, red and even purple.
The keyword for the change in color is chlorophyll. If you remember back in your 7th grade science class, chlorophyll is powered by sunlight and gives leaves that beautiful green color during the summertime. When fall arrives, the chlorophyll slowly starts to disappear from the leaves. The weather cools down and the days become shorter, which in turn prevents adequate access to sun and food. Because there are not enough resources for photosynthesis, the chlorophyll slowly disappears from the leaves leaving the yellow and orange color.
Do you see trees with branches full of color? It’s because glucose levels are trapped in leaves after the photosynthesis stops. The glucose itself is what turns the leaves bright red or orange, and it’s mostly seen in maple trees. If you check out areas around Nashville such as Cheekwood, Centennial Park and Belle Meade Plantation, you will be able to spot some of these beautiful bright leaves in all shades of this color pallette. It’s a beautiful reminder of why fall brings such joy to Nashvillians and people all over Middle Tennessee.
But don’t forget that the beautiful foliage will eventually fall from the trees, and one of the most popular landing zones? Your gutters. Your landscape and trees will come across a lot of fallen leaves so don’t forget to check the gutters, flower beds and other hidden crevices areas in your landscape. Though cleaning gutters isn’t a service offered by the Parke Company, cleaning out those gutters is a task that cannot be forgotten.
If you need other services such as tree care, compost, fall decorations or other tree and landscape services, contact the Parke Company today. (For a full list, click here.) Enjoy the fall weather since it’s only here for a short time longer, but be sure to remember your gutters!