Calgary's deciduous trees turn yellow from drought

The calendar shows it's the height of summer, but Calgary's deciduous trees are in early fall.

Poplar trees all over the city are starting to turn yellow, as well as some elm and ash.

"The trees have actually been suffering from drought," said Jeannette Wheeler, Urban Forestry Lead with the City of Calgary.

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That might seem confusing, given all the recent rain. But she said it's come down so hard, it hasn't soaked down to the roots.

"It's just been running off," said Wheeler. "If you were to dig into some of these areas where you were seeing some of these trees that are turning yellow already, you would find that there is no moisture in the ground."

Dry winter

Wheeler said the yellowing of the leaves is a form of self-preservation.

"And so they're saying 'Hey we're in drought condition, we're going toshut down and hopefully start again next year.'"

Thecity is letting the poplarstake their natural course, but iswateringyoung andnewly-plantedpublic trees.

She said Calgarianscan help out theolder trees in their neighbourhoods byputtinga hoseonlow and slow, at the roots,preferably early in the morning.