New England is known for its trees and beautiful leaves, making “leaf peeping” a popular fall activity. But as winter gets closer, those leaves will go through a normal process called "abscission" where they detach from the tree.
Trees losing leaves in the late fall (and some stragglers in the early winter) is normal for deciduous trees. But leaves dropping in the spring or summer can be signs that something is wrong.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the reasons why your trees might be losing leaves early. Leaves falling off a tree in spring or summer is almost always indicative of a problem.
Jump to:
When Do Leaves Fall Off Trees?
Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves?
Why is My Tree Losing Leaves Early?
Investing in Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
When Do Leaves Fall Off Trees?
In New England, the normal process for deciduous trees is to shed their leaves in the fall. Shorter and colder days begin to naturally trigger this process.
Here in our region, we usually see peak leaf color between late September and mid October. Leaves usually start falling about a week after they peak in color.
Why Do Trees Lose Their Leaves?
Leaf drop is a natural process for deciduous trees to help conserve water and nutrients while also shielding the tree from winter damage as it goes into a state of dormancy. A deciduous tree with no leaves is a normal sight in the winter.
The leaf drop process (called “abscission”) also allows trees to reabsorb nutrients from the leaves before they fall. The tree will grow new leaves in the spring. If it doesn’t, then it definitely indicates some sort of health issue that should be addressed by an arborist.
Why is My Tree Losing Leaves Early?
If it is the spring or the summer and leaves are dropping, then there could be something wrong.
Here are some of the most common reasons for premature leaf drop.
1) Disease
Spring or summer leaf drop can be a characteristic of various tree diseases. Before leaves fall you might notice they have spots, discoloration, or are wilting. As foliage dies, it will eventually drop. It’s important to rake up and properly dispose of fallen leaves that are diseased so that you don’t cause problems with your soil and reduce the risk of spreading a fungal disease to other trees. 
As far as how to treat tree disease, it will depend on what you’re dealing with. While some diseases are treatable, others have no cure. Talking to a tree care expert can get you on the right path to answers.
2) Pests
A tree shedding leaves outside of the fall months might also be a sign of a pest problem. Some tree pests use their piercing, sucking mouthparts to drain foliage of its juices while others munch directly on the leaves. This can eventually lead to foliage death and premature dropping.
There are treatments for many pest problems but the key is to catch it early. Often, there is a window of time when treatments work best so it’s important to work with a professional to remain proactive.
3) Improper Watering
It might be hard to believe that watering can harm your tree, but when you water too much, you can cause trouble. When you overwater your tree, you don’t give the roots ample time to dry out and absorb vital nutrients and oxygen that are needed for survival. In other words, too much water can “drown” the roots. This can lead to leaf drop.
If you notice that the ground around your tree is squishy, your tree might be overwatered. Sometimes this can also occur because of compacted soil. If it’s not draining well, it can become waterlogged.
4) Drought
Just like too much water is a problem, too little water is also an issue.
Drought-stress is a common reason for a tree losing leaves in summer. Trees obviously need water for survival and, when they don’t receive enough, some of the foliage can wither and die. Some tree species are more prone to this than others.
If we are experiencing extended periods of no rain, it’s going to be important to provide your trees with supplemental water. Healthy trees require around one inch of water per week.
Investing in Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
Whether you’ve already noticed trees losing leaves outside of the normal fall season or you just want to be proactive in preventing these types of issues, it makes sense to partner with a tree care professional.
Ultimately, the goal is always to try and prevent problems in the first place. When you invest in ongoing tree care, you keep your trees healthy. This means they will have an easier time fighting off problems that do arise like disease, pests, and environmental stressors.
Getting the best care for trees boils down to choosing the best tree care service. In order to make sure that you are choosing wisely, you’ll need to do some research on the companies you are considering.
With the right company, you’ll ensure your trees are getting the proper care all year long. At Seacoast Tree Care, we’re committed to preserving the health and beauty of trees in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts by performing vital services like tree pruning, tree removal, and general tree care the right way. We’re also here to offer helpful tree care tips so that you can be well-educated on what your trees need.
When you make a wise choice in tree services, you’ll ultimately take an important step in protecting the value of your property’s trees.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your New Hampshire, Maine, or Massachusetts home? Request your consultation and get a free quote for tree pruning services. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
