Fall Leaves Still on Trees?

Maple Tree Disease
The maple's at it again.  Rather than toss her fiery crimson leaves to the ground after the final frost, the Japanese maple has clung stubbornly to withered brown leaves  through this brutal, snowy winter.

The maple in the front fared about  the same, as did the neighbor's pair of flowering pears. 

I found that reassuring. It's unlikely varied and mature trees would suffer simultaneous disease.

Spring's yet to sprung, but it appears that the shaggy trees are the result of an early cold winter.

In southeast Michigan, the "first widespread frost event" of 2017 was reported on October 26th.  The Old Farmer's Almanac calculated the probable date as October 30th, using 1981 to 2010  average "Climate Normals."

Usually the decrease in daylight along with a gradual freeze
allows a tree to begin the gradual process of discoloration coupled with the tightening of the ring at the base.. of each leaf.  The tree, in her own deliberate way, schluffs off her leaves each fall.

In the fall of 2017  the frost was early and hard,
and many trees simply retired ahead of schedule --becoming dormant before the job was completely done.  What's left are muddy looking leaves.

Not to worry.  In the spring, new leaf buds will finish the job, and toss last year's to the ground.

And you thought you were done with fall clean-up?

Grab the rake!

still hanging on:

Black Spots on Maple Leaves

Colorado Pine Beetle Disease