Leaf Drop

During the late fall and winter months, The Growing Company focuses on the removal of leaves and debris prevalent at this time.  We switch from mulching mowers to bagging debris.   It is important to clear leaves and branches from our properties to improve drainage during winter storms.   Clogged drains can create puddles that have the potential cause problems.

There are a number of reasons for leaf loss, but essentially, deciduous trees lose their leaves to conserve energy over the winter and prevent damage to the tree. Cold dry winds will readily strip moisture from trees through the leaves, which have a large surface area. By losing their leaves, trees can conserve their moisture in the trunk and branches, rather than drying out and dying.

As the leaves stop producing chlorophyll, they start to change color. Ultimately, trees lose their leaves once the chemicals they secrete have effectively cut the leaves off from the parent branch. The bright yellows, oranges, and reds that make fall color distinctive are actually already there, but the chlorophyll masks them. As the days get shorter, the trees have less sunlight to work with, and the efficiency of the leaves starts to decrease.  The leaves fall to the ground when trees lose their leaves, providing a layer of protective mulch to insulate their roots, and the tree conserves its energy for the next year and a new growing season.