When was the last time that we saw so many leaves still hanging around in early November? When did so many leaves land on the ground with so little color? Blame the weather of course. Iıll try to explain without more information than we need.

In our climate all plants either die or head into dormancy as frost and cooler temperatures arrive. Day length and available moisture also play significant roles. Day length is consistent from one year to the next but the other two can vary greatly.

All plant activity results from chemical activity in the plant. Perhaps a good analogy would be hormones in people.

Lack of moisture, or water stress, increases the concentration of abscisic acid, which in turn encourages the plant to shed its leaves. This offers the plant an effective way to conserve water when the growing season is ending. That explains the early leaf drop before much color appeared.

The wonderful fall colors are in the leaves from new spring growth to fall leaf drop. They are hidden by the active food-producing chlorophyll in the leaves. It is when growth slows and the chlorophyll fades that the colors appear. The significantly higher temperatures of September and most of October worked to maintain growth and delay colors.

I donıt think Iım dreaming when I say that with the recent heavy rain and several frosty mornings that we are seeing better color. Unfortunately, too many leaves have already dropped to make this a banner year.

As the plant gets ready for winter, food is transferred to the roots. Woody plants also store extra water in their stems. The latter storage can be impacted by stem wounds. Thus, pruning in the fall should be discouraged. Likewise, early top removal of perennials can reduce the transfer of food to the roots.

One sidebar is that often contact herbicides are quite effective when applied in late fall. A month or so ago I mowed a small field that is polluted with thistles. Right now the thistles look lush and green.

Given what we have talked about above, the weed killer would now be quickly transported directly to the roots, unlike spring or summer applications. I sure hope I can find time to have a good-bye party for those thistles. I know of no other way short of herbicides to get rid of Canadian thistles and now is a good time to attack.

I think you can also surmise from the above that anything that encourages growth late in the season has the potential to slow dormancy and increase the risk of winter injury. The fertilizer on perennials and shrubs should cease no later than early August if you use it. The water hose should be put away given the recent heavy rain.

As you can guess, something approaching the opposite happens as spring arrives. One thought is that well-mulched soil will have a more uniform and cooler temperature than one that has no mulch. The cooler temperature will delay spring growth a bit and maybe save the plant from damage during late spring frosts.

All plant growth is cyclical and dependent on environmental conditions. Dormancy is a natural "rest" period for perennials, trees and shrubs. That time is about here.