In this CBS Pittsburgh article, Luke Werner from Davey's North Pittsburgh office says how you can combat the heat stress causing leaves to change color early. 

Posted: September 02, 2025

A close view of tree branches coming into frame from the right with fall-colored leaves shining in the sun.The official start to fall is less than a month away, but some trees around the Pittsburgh area are already starting to show color. This color isn't traditional fall foliage though. 

Most of western Pennsylvania's fall color and fall leaf drops will still come later in the year. But tree experts said that when trees are really stressed due to heat and drought, they're going to go into their fall foliage and fall colors a little bit earlier.

Changing leaves are sign of heat stress

"The trees, when they have a lack of water, they kind of have to prioritize what that water is going to. So as far as chlorophyll production, photosynthesizing, that type of thing, a lot of times it can result in some early leaf change in color, and even, like, a dull fall color," Luke Werner, the district manager at Davey Tree Expert Company in Gibsonia, said. 

To continue reading Luke's advice, click here. 

For more information, contact the North Pittsburgh office. 

The Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio, 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. As one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., Davey's 12,000 employees have been dedicated to creating and delivering sustainable solutions since 1880. Apply today to join the Davey legacy, and learn about how we're growing with our new SEED Campus

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