The ladies and gents of Nashville are eagerly ordering their Pumpkin Spice Lattes and wearing boots in anticipation for the fall. But what exactly makes the autumn season so special? Football? Apple-picking? It’s the change in color of the leaves on the trees, of course! But exactly how do they change color and why do they eventually fall from their limbs?
The one-word answer is chlorophyll. The long answer … is a bit more complicated.
If you remember back in your 7th grade science class, chlorophyll is what gives leaves that beautiful green color during the summertime. When fall arrives, the weather cools down and the days become shorter, giving the leaves less 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. If you see trees with bright red or purple leaves on their limbs, that’s mostly from the glucose levels trapped in maples.
Of course, eventually the beautiful foliage will drop to the ground and it will be necessary to clean up for the wintertime. If you don’t have time or are unable to do it yourself, the Parke Company is certified in tree chipper and debris removal so they can take care of all your leaf pick up woes. Other services to be thinking about during this time of year include:
- Dead limb or tree removal
- Leaf blowing or mulching for additional leaf pick up and tree chipper services
- Expert transplant services (Your plants begin to go dormant after the first freeze of the season, which happens as early as fall.)
For more information about the Parke Company and their services, call them today at (615) 405-6548. And as the folks here in Middle Tennessee say, “Happy Fall, Y’all!”