--- title: What's Behind Autumn Leaf Colors? description: What's Behind Autumn Leaf Colors? image: https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/file-2745722971-jpg/blog-files/leaf-collage-7-1422680-m.jpg --- # What's Behind Autumn Leaf Colors? Oct 1, 2013 6:58:51 AM [![tree healthcare in Kansas City](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/file-2745722971-jpg/blog-files/leaf-collage-7-1422680-m.jpg?width=300&height=227&name=leaf-collage-7-1422680-m.jpg)](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/file-2745722971-jpg/blog-files/leaf-collage-7-1422680-m.jpg) Source: stock.xchng Autumn is the time of year when the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and the leaves turn from green to red and gold. All of these things are related because the lack of sunlight on shorter days cause the leaves on healthy[ deciduous trees](http://blog.cartwrighttree.com/news-and-events/what-are-hardiness-zones-and-how-do-they-affect-trees/) to loose their green pigment. Chlorophyll, the green pigment, is responsible for the photosynthesis process that converts sunlight to sugars to feed the plants. The other pigments are the orange-yellow carotenoids and the reddish anthocyanin which are the last to fade as the leaves dry and fall from the tree. While the carotenoids are found in the leaves most of the growing season, the anthocyanins develop late in the season. Temperature and moisture affect the leaves. Bright days and cold, crisp nights allow the anthocyanins to develop giving the copper, burgundy and crimson colors to the leaves as the chlorophyll stops production. Tree healthcare is necessary for your [colorful shade trees ](http://blog.cartwrighttrees.com/tree-healthcare/colorful-shade-trees-to-bring-autumn-beauty-to-your-yard/)to produce leaves throughout the spring and summer and into the autumn. The trees need to be fed during the growing season and trimmed by a professional tree care expert. Contact [Cartwright Tree Care](http://dashboard.digitalsherpa.com/leads_form.php?leads_id=879) for professional planting and tree maintenance in the Kansas City area. [Tree Healthcare](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/topic/tree-healthcare) ##### Like it? Share it: [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/whats-behind-autumn-leaf-colors) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/whats-behind-autumn-leaf-colors) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/whats-behind-autumn-leaf-colors) ### You may also like [What’s Iron Chlorosis? ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/whats-iron-chlorosis) ##### [What’s Iron Chlorosis?](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/whats-iron-chlorosis) 21 July, 2011 Iron chlorosis is a tree disease that is quite common here in the Kansas City area. It causes the leaves of a tree to ye... 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[Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/what-is-tip-blight-and-what-to-do-about-it) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/what-is-tip-blight-and-what-to-do-about-it) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/what-is-tip-blight-and-what-to-do-about-it) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/what-is-tip-blight-and-what-to-do-about-it) [It's Time to Take Action Against Tip Blight ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/its-time-to-take-action-against-tip-blight) ##### [It's Time to Take Action Against Tip Blight](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/its-time-to-take-action-against-tip-blight) 10 March, 2011 Tip blight, or pine blight as it is often called, is another common problem among the pine trees here in the Kansas City... 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