Is it still Summer? Leave me Hanging.

Why do leaves turn colour in the autumn? Is it the cooler nights, the date on the calendar or what?

While some may think it is the cooler weather or just the changing seasons, it's really the "photoperiod."

The photoperiod is considered to be the environmental trigger that causes fall leaf colouring, senescence and leaf drop. The pigment phytochrome senses the photoperiod. Photoperiod is often thought to be the length of the daylight period.

In actuality it is not the length of the daylight time, but the length of the night.

 

Here in these photos, we can see a situation where a section of this tree have not received the longer nights needed to trigger fall colouring. The leaves of this maple that are near the street lamp have been fooled into believing that it is still summer. The light from the street lamp shining on these leaves has led them to think that the longer days and shorter nights of summer have not gone away.

Plants that respond to photoperiodism, do not measure the length of the daylight but rather the length of the dark period. For these maple leaves, their night has been shortened by the rays of the street lamp. I'm sure at some point they will respond as the rest of the tree has done. My speculation is that the other leaves will create enough of the hormones that trigger the autumn responses to eventually cause all the leaves to colour and fall.

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:

Turf King Home

Click here to Request a Quote Online -

or call us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)

If you would like more information, please Contact us

Follow us on Twitter  http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen

Join our Facebook page  

http://www.bit.ly/FacebookTK

Copyright 2009 Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.

Thank You -Hamilton Spectator - Readers' Choice - Favourite Lawn Care

Hamilton, ON, - Turf King Hamilton, a professional lawn care firm serving Hamilton and area, was awarded the Gold Level in the local newspaper’s Reader Choice Award. Hamilton Spectator serves the metropolitan area of the City of Hamilton.

The awards local companies and individuals who go above and beyond the expectations of the readers of the Hamilton Spectator.

Turf King Hamilton embraces the use of high quality fertilization products to provide long lasting nutrients to the lawns of their clients. Every effort is made to use products and practices that keep lawns healthy and to also keep them safe for pets and children.

“I am honored to be selected for the Gold Level Award. Our goal is to provide the best Lawn Care in this area,” said Gerry Okimi, owner of Turf King Hamilton Lawn Care in Hamilton. “This award is recognition of our commitment to serving our customers with a  level of service that they can appreciate. “

“Turf King Hamilton would like to thank the community for voting them as the GOLD Readers' Choice winner in the Lawn Care Service Category. Your votes are truly appreciated. This is a great honour and we are grateful for your confidence in our services.

About Turf King Hamilton:

Turf King Hamilton Lawn Care is Hamilton’s leading full-service lawn care company. We are committed to the needs of our customers. For more information visit  http://www.hamiltonturfking.ca

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:

Turf King Home

Click here to Request a Quote Online -

or call us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)

If you would like more information, please Contact us

Follow us on Twitter  http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen

Join our Facebook page  

http://www.bit.ly/FacebookTK

Copyright 2009 Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.

Fall Colours

Fall colours on the landscape and lawn are a wonder to behold. The colours available take on a much larger dimension than the spring and summer colours. There are a few trees that give a mass of colourful blooms. None however, fill the eye's camera screen in the same way that the fall colours of trees can.

The sheer volume of colour in the leaves of a tree are overwhelming. And more so in the autumn. During the time the leaves are green, there is a lot more green around in the other plants, trees and lawns. In the fall, the other plants are less noticeable. Only the evergreens have a presence. The lawn is still green, but is often blanketed by the same palette of fall colours from the fallen leaves.

In some cases, the variation in the colours can create a stunning contrast- red, yellow, green.

The leaves of trees can be a detriment to the lawn in several ways. During the spring and summer, they restrict the amount of sunlight that reaches the lawn. This means we have to resort to special measure to be able to maintain a healthy lawn in the shade.

Once the leaves have decided to leave their lofty heights, they can also be a bit of a nuisance. If they are left on the lawn over the winter they will damage the lawn. That means the leaves must be dealt with somehow.  One way is to rake, rake rake.

Lawns can be an important visual component of a landscape. Maintaining their health is important to keep them looking their best and able to function as efficiently as possible.

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care- get The KING OF GREEN, the King of Lawn Care:

Turf King Home

Click here to Request a Quote Online -

or call us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)

If you would like more information, please Contact us

Follow us on Twitter  http://twitter.com/turfkingofgreen

Join our Facebook page  

http://www.bit.ly/FacebookTK

Copyright 2009 Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.