UK drought: Why do the trees think it's autumn already?

From the crunch of leaves underfoot and the fiery foliage adorning the trees, you might be thinking autumn has come early.

But experts say this hint of a change in the seasons isn’t genuine. Instead it’s the tell-tale sign of a “false autumn”.

They warn the heatwave and drought has pushed trees into survival mode, with leaves dropping off or changing colour as a result of stress.

And some may end up dying as a result.

Auburn leaves and early leaf fall are both signs that trees are stressed and “shutting up shop”, says Leigh Hunt, senior horticultural advisor at the Royal Horticultural Society.

“It’s giving the appearance that we’re already in autumn, but the days are too long for those natural autumn processes to begin,” he says.

“Physiologically, the plants are not responding to autumn conditions; that’s why we term it loosely as ‘false autumn’.”

He says in all his 45 years, this is one of the most severe years he’s seen in terms of damage to trees in the countryside.

And while established trees can withstand drought through their extensive network of roots, younger specimens, such as those planted on poor soil at the edge of roads could wither and die.

Trees that have lost only a few leaves with just a little bit of yellowing should recover with enough rainfall, he explains.

There’s “a critical point”, though, when the tree can’t replenish the water lost through pores in the leaves and will “literally desiccate” or dry up.

In conditions like those seen recently, trees may react by producing more seeds – for instance, acorns – in an attempt to reproduce and survive into the future.

And if there’s a lot of rain we might even see “a second spring” with trees putting on an extra spurt of growth, he says.

Other signs of the unpredictable weather can be seen in berries appearing on plants and shrubs.

The Woodland Trust, which records seasonal changes, has received its earliest ever report of ripe blackberries – from 28 June.

It says fruits and nuts are ripening faster than ever, which “can spell disaster for wildlife” that feed on them.

“The record-breaking heat we have just experienced has helped bring on a number of early autumn events,” says Fritha West, from the Woodland Trust.

“We have received some of our earliest ever ripe blackberry records from the south of England. Hawthorn and rowan are also ripening early in some parts of the country, where early leaf tinting has also been observed.

“Elder and holly have been recorded as fruiting earlier too. Both extreme temperatures and a lack of water can cause trees to drop their leaves earlier than we’d expect.”

It’s hard to predict the long-term consequences of drought, but ecology experts think weeks of parched grasslands and rock-hard soil in much of southern England will be having a big impact on wildlife.

In and around rivers, the drought could be felt for years to come.

During summer droughts, fast-growing algae can smother wetland plants, killing them by blocking out light.

A reduction in river levels reduces habitat for fish, amphibians and invertebrates, affecting whole ecosystems.

“These plants provide vital habitat for insects and fish, and their loss from the ecosystem causes major changes up the food chain,” says Dr Mike Bowes of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

“It can take several years before plants are able to recover or recolonise these drought-impacted river reaches, and so the impact of severe droughts can be prolonged.”

Follow Helen on Twitter @hbriggs.