The dramatic color change for which maples are famous are the tree's reaction to cooler temperatures, which causes the tree's green chlorophyll to break down and migrate to the tree's roots. With the green chlorophyll gone, the leaf sugars and other compounds come to the forefront, giving the tree its brilliant fall color. Cold (but not freezing nights) and bright sunny days are the best environment for producing good fall color. Conventional wisdom once dictated that plenty of moisture and extra feeding right up until frost was the best formula for creating good fall color for a maple. But most experts now advise that ample watering during the growing season needs to be followed by withholding fertilizer and water in the fall. This mild fall stress will help maximize leaf color for your red maple. Keep your tree well-watered until late summer, but allow it to experience mild drought as fall begins.