Problems and timing may not apply outside of this area. With August nearly half gone, thoughts are already turning to school resuming and fall right around the corner. Unfortunately, trees turning in late August most likely are stressed or in decline. Take some time to check these problem trees out. While the color shows up in the canopy, start your inspection by looking down to the base of the tree.
Root zones are key areas.
Root damage is a very common stress factor that can lead to early fall color and decline. Types of damage may include direct injury from digging near the tree, injury from soil fill placed over the root zone, chemicals in the soil, excess water, or too little water. In addition, consider a girdling root to be a possibility, as roots growing across others or cutting into the trunk can be a serious problem. Pay attention to the very base of the trunk. There should be a natural root flare in this location.