--- title: Why Do Leaves Change Colors Durning Fall in Kansas City? description: Why do leaves turn colors during fall in Kansas City? image: https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hubfs/shutterstock_317964062.jpg --- # Why Do Leaves Change Colors Durning Fall in Kansas City? Oct 18, 2016 4:25:58 PM   ![shutterstock_317964062.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_317964062.jpg?width=978&height=444&name=shutterstock_317964062.jpg)   [![Download the Cartwright Tree Care Fall Checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/507305/27d3ad93-cc47-4776-a6a6-b847574fc681.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/507305/27d3ad93-cc47-4776-a6a6-b847574fc681) As the vibrant green fades away, we begin to notice different shades of yellow and orange. The bright colors are wonderful to behold but why do the leaves turn those delightful shades during the [fall in Kansas City](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/fall-maintenance-tips-for-your-trees-in-kansas-city)? We all know about "Photosynthesis" so we can cut the biology part short!  But for those of you who have no idea [Science Made Simple](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html) defines photosynthesis in a more understandable way! ["Leaves are nature's food factories. Plants take water from the ground through their roots. They take a![shutterstock_419476852-1.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_419476852-1.jpg?width=320&name=shutterstock_419476852-1.jpg)](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html) [gas called carbon dioxide from the air. Plants ](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html)[use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is a gas in the air that we ](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html)[need to breathe. Glucose is a kind of suga](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html)[r. Plants use glucose as food for energy and as a building block for growing.](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html) [The way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar is called photosynthesis. That means "putting together with light." A chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color."  ](http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html) Since our, Earth makes a 365-day journey around the sun, our part of the planet gets fewer hours of daylight!  That is why our days get shorter and our nights become longer (YAY for more sleep)!  As the days get shorter and shorter the leaves begin to produce less and less chlorophyll.   Eventually, when the tree stops producing chlorophyll completely, the carotenoid (create bright yellows and oranges in familiar fruits and vegetables. Corn, carrots, and bananas are just a few of the many plants colored by carotenoid) already in the trees leaves shows through!  That is how you get [![Click here to  Subscribe to our Blog!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/507305/b8216638-1a98-47dd-a0f0-5df4423c5d20.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/507305/b8216638-1a98-47dd-a0f0-5df4423c5d20)the warm beautiful [fall orange and yellows](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/fall-tree-preperation-in-kansas-city)!   Stay tuned for "Why Leaves Turn Red"!  [![Get Your FREE Seasonal Tree Assessment Here! ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/507305/844ac473-1935-4e52-84d1-5578fa44b702.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/507305/844ac473-1935-4e52-84d1-5578fa44b702)   [News and events](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/topic/news-and-events) ##### Like it? Share it: [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/why-do-leaves-change-colors-durning-fall-in-kansas-city) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/why-do-leaves-change-colors-durning-fall-in-kansas-city) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/why-do-leaves-change-colors-durning-fall-in-kansas-city) ### You may also like [Kansas City Metro Winter Tree Care ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) ##### [Kansas City Metro Winter Tree Care](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) 28 December, 2017 [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/kansas-city-metro-winter-tree-care) [Fun Facts About Your Trees in Kansas City ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) ##### [Fun Facts About Your Trees in Kansas City](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) 26 April, 2013 Image via Pinterest [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/fun-facts-about-your-trees-in-kansas-city) [Taking Care of Drought Stricken Trees: Part I ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i) ##### [Taking Care of Drought Stricken Trees: Part I](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i) 6 November, 2012 Kansas City has seen more than its fair share of the drought this year. Less rain, drier air means stressed trees. Thoug... [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/taking-care-of-drought-stricken-trees-part-i)