Trees have long leaves. However, their leaves do not. They fall off the trees in course of time. Shedding of leaves occur due to many reasons.
In cold climates, the days are shorter during autumn and winter. Therefore, the leaves do not get sufficient sunlight to prepare food for the plant. In the event of scarcity of food for a tree, it has to conserve its energy. Leaves, which do not manufacture food and only consume it, are a liability for the tree now. The tree, then, has no other alternative but no shed its leaves!
In extreme cold, when trees are exposed to frost, shedding of leaves is kind of defense against the cold. If there were leaves, more area of the tree would be affected! In addition, trees need rest too. When there are too many leaves, they keep the roots of the plant busy by demanding more water and nutrients from soil for preparing food. However, when these ‘little food factories’ close down, the roots are much relieved! Evergreen plants shed leaves regularly as the leaves mature and get old and therefore have to be replaced by new ones.
During the season of autumn, which comes between summer and winter, temperatures gradually decrease. In the United States, autumn season is known as ‘fall’ because that is when leaves fall of trees.
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