Over the past 24 hours it seems that summer has come to an abrupt end and autumn is creeping upon us. There has been heavy rain with mist and fog here in the South East and the leaves on many trees are already changing colour before September has even arrived.
Guy Barter, chief horticultural adviser at the RHS, said: “We are certainly beginning to see plants beginning to show colour because of the unusual weather we have had.”
He said a reasonably wet winter was followed by an extremely dry spring, and despite rainfall since the spring, it had not been enough to counter extremely dry soils.
As a result, he said: “Trees and shrubs are under a lot of water stress. It’s not fatal because they are well adapted but it makes them get rid of their leaves.”
He said it was not a problem for the trees, which had a very good growing season because of the early warm weather and would be in good condition for next year
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/8712804/Autumn-comes-early-after-hot-dry-spring.html
Tue, Aug 23, 2011
Climate Change, Trees