Help with Leaf Drop

Sunlight and Climate

• If the affected plants do not receive the amount of sunlight or shade they need, then the result is burned, wilted or stunted foliage that may drop prematurely. Plants also can loose leaves when they are exposed to the wrong climate or weather conditions.

  Provide the appropriate light conditions and climate zone for each plant you add to your landscape. Each perennial plant is assigned a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zone range, which means it is capable of surviving year after year in each zone in that range. Ensure your perennial plants are suited for the USDA zone in which you live. When planting annual plants, which don't survive winter, ensure you grow them during the appropriate season; some are suited for warm weather, and others thrive in cool temperatures.

Drought and Overwatering

• When trees and other plants do not receive enough water or receive an overabundance of water, they respond in the same way, showing a loss of vigor, limp foliage and premature leaf drop if the problem persists. During a dry spell, leaves may become scorched, dropping after browning. When a root system receives too much water, it begins to drown due to a lack of oxygen; the roots and other parts of the plant can't transport water properly to leaves, resulting in wilting and leaf drop.

  Different plants require different amounts of water to remain healthy. The best rule to follow is to water your plants if their feels dry to the touch at 3 to 5 inches beneath the soil surface. Well-draining soil is essential so the ground does not remain overly wet or saturated and so water reaches deep feeder roots.

Overfertilization

• Overfertilization also results in scorching and burning of a plant's root system and leaves. If the root system becomes burned or damaged, the plant cannot transport water properly, resulting in leaf drop and a general lack of vigor. Overfertilization causes an overabundance of nutrients and salts in soil. When an overabundance of one nutrient exists, a plant has trouble taking in other nutrients, resulting in nutrient deficiencies, which also leads to foliage growth problems and leaf drop.

  Developing and adhering to a schedule of fertilization for plants is important. Avoid scorch and an overabundance of nutrients by using a slow-release fertilizer. If you notice leaves dropped from plants, then discontinue fertilization for three to four weeks to determine whether or not fertilizer is the problem's cause.

Pests and Diseases

• An attack by pests of diseases weakens trees and other plants and results in leaf loss. Pests that cause leaf drop include mites, borers and scale, which suck nutrients and life from leaves and stems. Various root rot diseases caused by fungal pathogens lead to leaf loss; the diseases develop easily in overly wet conditions. Fungal spores eat and clog the root systems of trees and other plants, preventing water from reaching all their parts, including leaves. As the plants lose vigor, their leaves wilt and drop prematurely.

  Prevent invasions by pests and diseases in plants by providing the plants the very best cultural care, including proper sunlight, water, pruning and fertilization. If you must turn to natural or chemical means of pest or disease control, follow the product’s instructions so you don't accidentally damage the plants further.