Kentucky leaves begin changing color as dry fall weather continues

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Parts of Kentucky are starting to see leaves change color as a dry start to fall continues across the state.

Leaves changing color is a process that happens every year, but the conditions needed for an exceptional display can get complicated.

The process of leaves changing color is called fall senescence. It happens when the green chlorophyll in the leaves dies and reveals other pigments within the leaf. A handful of factors affect the extent or longevity of the coloration.

Carrie Spry, the Clark County Extension Office’s horticulturist, said the things that need to take place for a leaf change to happen include the autumnal equinox, which has already occurred, shorter days, bright, sunshiny days and cooler nights.

“The sunshine is what helps break down that chlorophyll faster and the cool night is what helps retain the actual colored pavement to gain that color,” Spry said.

That is the weather Kentucky has been seeing recently.

Weather is a major factor for fall senescence, but location matters as well. Spry shared her favorite spot to see the best coloration.

“For best coloration, I’m going to encourage people to go to, like, Red River Gorge area,” Spry said. “Places where there’s large quantities of large mature trees, or water nearby as well because of the stress that we’ve had this year from the droughts and things like that. Higher elevation and water nearby are going to give you some the best colors.”

Spry said the coloration seen so far has been partially tree stress from drought conditions and partially the usual fall coloration. She said coloration will pick up soon since peak coloration typically appears in mid-October.