How will Minnesota's drought conditions affect fall colors this year?
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As we head from summer into fall, significant drought remains stubbornly entrenched across Minnesota.
Most of the state is classified as having moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor — with a small portion of the state even listed in extreme drought.
There are clear impacts of drought, such as poor crops and increased fire danger. But the affect that drought has on Minnesota’s trees can be less obvious — and take longer to become evident.
“It’s actually pretty problematic,” says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator with the University of Minnesota Extension.
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“It’s not just a stress in a single season that impacts them. It can compound over years, so we can actually see drought stress, in particular, start showing up in trees five, six, seven years down the road.”
The result, says Irish-Hanson, can eventually lead to trees dying in some cases. It also becomes a problem looking ahead to this winter.
“When the ground is dry, the soil is dry. It cools down … more quickly than if there’s moisture in the soil. And tree roots in particular, and our perennial plants, the root systems: They’re way more susceptible to cold damage than the above-ground parts,” Irish-Hanson said.
As for this year’s fall color, Irish-Hanson says the drought means it might be for a shorter window and a little earlier in some parts of the state. The dry conditions are causing leaves to feel thinner, more dry and papery.
“Those leaves are generally going to kind of turn a dull yellowish color and go more quickly to a brown before they drop off from the trees,” Irish-Hanson said.
The total effects will depend on the species and how bad the drought is in specific areas. But there are some trees more susceptible than others.
“We love sugar maples, but they aren’t particularly great with drought … and so we might not see as robust colors from them for as long an amount of time, if you’re in an area with severe drought,” she said.
So, what can we do? If you have trees in your yard or in your care, water them. Irish-Hanson says watering for a long time infrequently is more effective than running a sprinkler for a few minutes every day.
And if you’re looking to line up your travel plans with the fall colors, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a helpful guide here. The DNR will also release a 2026 prediction for fall colors on Sept. 9.
