- Healthy leaves are a good start toward a colorful autumn. A warm, wet spring gets the trees off to a good start after emerging from winter. Mild temperatures and adequate rainfall early in the leaf development make for healthy leaf buds that soon sprout into healthy leaves. Favorable summer weather directly contributes to the fall color display, as well. Moderate to cool temperatures and enough rainfall will keep the flora green and healthy during the summer.
- The amount of light that a tree gets will directly affect the intensity of its leaf color, especially if the leaves are red. A sunny location will produce vivid reds in trees such as maples. The difference is even noticeable between the sunny side and the shady side of the tree.
- Once fall arrives, weather directly affects the color displays once again. Mild, sunny days combined with cold but not freezing nights will produce brilliant colors, as will adequate rainfall in autumn. Early frosts or unseasonably warm weather will lower the intensity of the leaf colors.
- Observe the colorful autumn foliage on cool--not freezing--days that are sunny or mildly overcast for the best display. Plan your trip to coincide with peak color for the area. A late spring and summer droughts can delay the onset of the color display by weeks, so make inquiries ahead of time if your travel plans include taking in the foliage.
- The term "peak color" may be a little misleading. The term suggests that peak color is when all the trees are in color at their most vibrant. Peak color is, in actuality, a term that refers to the red and orange color foliage of the red maple and sugar maple trees. There are many varieties of other deciduous trees and shrubs that color before and after the maples, so when peak color arrives for a particular area, some species of trees--such as honeylocust and birch--may have already colored and then dropped their leaves. Likewise, after peak color has passed, many trees--such as oaks and beech trees--may not have colored yet.
