How to Tell Your Tree’s Health From the Way the Leaves Change

Colorado Premier Tree Care | Denver’s Trusted ISA Certified Arborists

As the seasons shift in the Denver Metro area, homeowners often look to their trees as an early indicator of seasonal change. Autumn colors can be beautiful — but sometimes the way a tree’s leaves change can reveal more than just the arrival of fall. The timing, pattern, and appearance of leaf color change can tell you a lot about your tree’s overall health.

At Colorado Premier Tree Care, our ISA Certified Arborists help homeowners throughout the Denver area understand what their trees are telling them. Here’s how to read the signs in your leaves.

1. Timing: When Leaves Change Too Early

If your trees start changing color or dropping leaves weeks before other trees in your neighborhood, that’s often a sign of stress. Early color change can indicate:

• Drought stress (especially common in Colorado’s dry late summers)

• Root damage from construction, soil compaction, or overwatering

• Pest or disease pressure weakening the tree’s vascular system

Trees under stress will conserve energy by shutting down early for the season. If you notice one of your maples or ash trees turning color long before others nearby, it’s worth having it inspected by a certified arborist.

2. Color Patterns: What the Shade of the Leaves Can Tell You

Not all color changes are created equal. Healthy trees tend to display uniform and vibrant colors in fall. Irregular or patchy color change can be an early warning sign of underlying issues.

• Yellowing between leaf veins often points to nutrient deficiencies, such as iron or manganese chlorosis, common in Colorado’s alkaline soils.

• Scorched brown edges can indicate heat or drought stress.

• Dull, faded colors might suggest that the tree is suffering from a root or soil problem, preventing proper nutrient uptake.

When a tree doesn’t receive the right nutrients, the fall colors appear muted, uneven, or premature.

3. Leaf Retention and Drop Patterns

The timing of leaf drop also says a lot about a tree’s vitality.

• Healthy deciduous trees hold their leaves until cooler temperatures and shorter days trigger a natural release.

• Trees dropping leaves early, especially while still green, are likely stressed.

• Trees that retain dead leaves (especially oaks and beeches) may be showing signs of branch dieback or canopy decline.

4. Common Colorado Examples

• Aspen Trees: In the Denver urban environment, aspen leaves that turn yellow too early or have dark spots may be suffering from Marssonina leaf spot, a common fungal issue.

• Maples: Brown leaf edges or premature leaf drop can be linked to drought stress or girdling roots.

• Ash Trees: Uneven color and thinning can sometimes be an early sign of Emerald Ash Borer infestation — something our arborists diagnose and treat using Mectinite tree injections.

5. How to Support Tree Health

When you notice unusual leaf behavior, early intervention is key. Our Denver tree care specialists offer targeted treatments that restore tree vitality, including:

• Cambistat growth regulation to improve root development and stress tolerance

• Transtect soil injections for pest management (such as elm leaf miner control)

• Soil nutrient and fertilization treatments customized for Colorado soils

A proactive approach ensures your trees stay strong, vibrant, and beautiful year after year.

Keep an Eye on the Leaves — and Call the Experts

Your trees communicate their health through their leaves. Whether it’s early color change, uneven patterns, or abnormal leaf drop, these signs shouldn’t be ignored.

At Colorado Premier Tree Care, our ISA Certified Arborists are experts in diagnosing and treating the causes behind these changes. From nutrient management and pest control to disease prevention and proper pruning, we provide comprehensive care to keep Denver’s trees thriving.

If you’ve noticed your trees changing color earlier than expected, schedule an inspection today — and let us help preserve the vitality and beauty of your landscape.

Colorado Premier Tree Care, LLCPreserving the Vitality and Aesthetics of Denver’s Urban Forest Since 2017📍 Serving the Greater Denver Metropolitan Area📞 Call us today to schedule your consultation with an ISA Certified Arborist