Why do leaves change color? What to know about fall colors

It's nature's own artwork captured in paintings and photographs throughout history.

As the calendar turns to fall, the leaves that sprouted in the spring start changing colors from green to orange, purplish red, crimson, tan and orange.

When will the leaves change in Delaware?

According to the Farmers' Almanac , the leaves will start changing in Delaware around Sept. 25 and continue through Nov. 26. The color change will begin in New Castle County and flow south to Kent County and then Sussex County.

What will fall feel like?: What the Old Farmer's Almanac says Delaware should expect from the weather this fall

Why do leaves change color?

Leaves change color because of the shorter days of fall, according to the U.S. Forest Service . As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to cause it to change colors.

During the growing season, chlorophyll is constantly produced and broken down to make the leaf look green. As the days shorten in the fall, chlorophyll production decreases and stops. When the chlorophyll stops producing and is destroyed, the carotenoids and anthocyanin pigments in the leaf are unmasked and the leaf changes colors.

What colors should we expect to see?

The colors are dependent on the type of tree. Here are a few examples from the U.S. Forest Service .

• Oaks: red, brown, or russet
• Hickories: golden bronze
• Aspen and yellow-poplar: golden yellow
• Dogwood: purplish red
• Beech: light tan
• Sourwood and black tupelo: crimson
• Red maple: brilliant scarlet
• Sugar maple: orange-red
• Black maple: glowing yellow
• Striped maple: almost colorless

Does weather impact the colors?

The brilliance of the color is dependent on the moisture and temperature in the area.

Warm, sunny days and cool, but not freezing nights seem to bring about the most spectacular color displays. In addition, a wet spring mixed with good summer weather and warm fall days with cool nights will produce stunning fall colors.

What happens after the fall colors?

As anyone who has handled a rake knows, the leaves fall.

In the forest, the fallen leaves and pine needles decompose and form a mulch that feeds the trees and other plants.

In residential areas, cleaning up after Mother Nature is quite a chore. People rake leaves and bag them for yard waste, mulch them or burn them.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why do leaves change color? What to know about fall colors