Healthy red oaks should hold onto rust colored leaves through a good portion of the winter. Poplars should hold on to their golden leaves well after most other trees drop theirs. Red Maple - Close observations of red maple have not been made, but it has been noted that they are affected by episodic leaf curling. Red Pine - Many are exhibiting browning and excessive needle loss. Red Spruce - The steady needle loss and mortality of the past 30 years seems to be accelerating in the trees that remain.
Some trees have entire limbs that are yellowing and dying now.
Doubt that they can survive much more of this. Episodic leaf curling and abnormal leaf drop first noted in July 1996. Episodic leaf curling has worsened significantly since then and leaf drop has picked up speed. In some areas widespread browning of leaves and foliar caterpillar infestations have developed over the past 2-3 months. Dieback is evident in many trees along with significantly elevated levels of mortality.