EARLY FALL: Are Heat, Drought Forcing Early Autumn?

It certainly feels like summer, but in some areas of the metro, the ground is looking a bit like fall. 

Experts say it’s not all due to the heat and drought.

“Most of the leaves that we`re finding on the ground are the result of the Japanese beetle,” says Eric Danielson of Wright Outdoor Solutions.

Arborists say skeletonized leaves on the ground are a sure sign of the Japanese beetle, while blackened veins on the back of leaves (another common sight) indicates fungus.

Those conditions are common at this time of year, but in 2012, with trees already under heavy stress due to relentless heat and drought, the effect has been greater.  

Experts say the best way to help your trees win the battle with pests and disease is to water around a tree’s base for 20-30 minutes.

“Just a steady stream coming out that can saturate that area around the trunk,” Danielson says, ”in the absence of rain, do that 2-3 times a week, that’s gonna help a lot.”

Danielson says that he’s seeing the worst damage from Japanese beetles on linden and river birch trees, but adds that many oaks are also seeing an unusual amount of leaf drop.