In this Sooke News Mirror article, Matthew Coady from Davey Tree Canada shares how to help trees with scorched leaves or early fall color due to drought. 

Posted: August 25, 2026

While pumpkin spice season is at hand for some coffee drinkers, it’s still too early for the leaf colour changes spotted across the South Island landscape.

Foliage changes early in some areas may be an indication of the stress trees are facing, primarily due to heat and drought, in Greater Victoria.

Scorch or early browning of leaves is easy to spot, says Matthew Coady, an arborist and area manager of Western Operations for Davey Tree Canada.A close view of a green leaf with red edges.

Leaves are green because of chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight. A lack of water in the soil pushes the plants to prioritize other essential functions, shutting down chlorophyll and shifting energy away from photosynthesis, which correlates to dwindling chlorophyll.

The process happens more naturally as light lessens heading into fall, typically in September or October.

“The solution is to water these drought-stressed trees as frequently as possible, ideally once a week,” Coady said. “The watering of the grass, depending on the volume of water … is normally not enough to get down to the deeper absorbing roots of the trees.”


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The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Davey has over 12,000 employees who create and deliver sustainable solutions. Davey continues to grow through expertise with the SEED Campus, its newest commitment to training, research and safety. Become part of the Davey legacy by applying today and join one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S.

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