After a hot start to September, can fall foliage season be salvaged?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Fall like temperatures are finally here after we had several hot stretches earlier this month. That’s not ideal for fall foliage. Now that we have the cooler temperatures around, can the fall color season still be saved?

“Yes, the season can be saved. There are many trees out there, a lot of good size mature trees that have done well holding their own. We’ve had pockets of good rainfall and such so the season can be saved,” said Carrie Spry, Clark County Extension Agent for Horticulture.

Spry, said the start of this month put a lot of stress on the trees. Now that cooler nights are here, the trees can relax and focus more on their bright fall colors.

“The cooler nights help break down the chlorophyll that have been doing the photosynthesis all summer long. As the chlorophyll dissipates, the pigments show and the true colors show in the leaves,” said Spry.

The weather that is expected over the next several days are ideal for those bright fall colors to develop.

“What we deem perfect for ourselves is perfect for the trees probably. Good 70 degree sunshine, 40 degree nights and those shortening daylight hours,” said Spry.

Spry said average rainfall is also important for the weeks to come. Remember, those bright fall colors are still a few weeks away from showing.

“Color change happens in central Kentucky in about mid-October towards the end of October so we are entering the beginning of October so maybe in a couple of weeks. A lot of that will hinge on the weather and what it will do,” said Spry.

A cool October will be critical in how fall colors develop. If we get more very warm stretches, the colors will stay pretty dull.

Spry said that early freezes and frosts would also hurt the development of those vibrant fall colors. The trees need a perfect amount of chill.