West Midlands gardeners report false autumn as dry weather turns leaves brown in August

Gardeners across the UK are seeing a "false autumn" with trees starting to lose their leaves and branches - in August.

Record-breaking temperatures during the summer heatwave has led to trees shedding their leaves around two months earlier than unusual.

Photographs taken at various locations across the country show autumnal-like scenes usually associated with October.

Leaves have begun to brown and fall at parks in Birmingham and Bristol while colours are also changing at Dodderhill Common in Worcestershire.

Autumn appears to have arrived early north of the border as well where ivy has turned red on some walls in North Queensferry, Fife.

Four-time Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist John Massey is the owner of what is considered one of the finest private gardens in Britain and says he has noticed the early colour changes.

John, 76, said: "We've been watering a lot to try and keep on top of everything but even we have noticed early changes in leaf colours.

"When you walk along the streets you can see some of the trees have been completely defoliated which is very unusual for this time of year.

"A lot of it is just responses to extreme stress and the long periods of hot and dry weather have caused the early browning of many leaves.

"But to those who are concerned about their gardens I'd say don't worry as there's a good chance they will bounce back next year.

"We have been lucky at being able to water as others have been imposed with hosepipe bans.

"A lot of conservationists will say not to water too much, but if plants and trees are thriving in your garden then so will wildlife, which I think is a good thing."

Elsewhere, Kristyna Kay-Clough, head gardener at Great Comp Garden in Kent, said plants were "losing their leaves just so they don't have to suffer any longer".

She told the BBC "We're hoping that if we get good moisture throughout the winter months the plants can actually recover and start fresh next year."

This phenomenon is not due to the seasons genuinely advancing but rather a response to the severe weather conditions causing stress to trees and plants.

Guy Barter, a chief horticulturist at The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): “Some trees are losing leaves due to drought stress after displaying the red and golden hues associated with true autumn colour.

"This false autumn is unrelated to the true autumn colour where the trees recover the nutrients from their leaves in October revealing the gorgeous colours associated with mid-late autumn.

"Enough trees have retained their foliage for there to be a, somewhat diminished, display of true autumn colour in October.

"Leaf loss now is due to severe drought stress. Stressed trees will probably recover in spring but some tree death next year and in subsequent years cannot be ruled out.”

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