Foliage Forecast for Nashville in Fall

As sweater weather settles in, so do the reds, yellows, and oranges of fall leaves in Nashville. The canopy’s color change creates the annual show that reminds us of the year’s progress, giving us a bright visual treat before the more somber season of winter takes hold. In Nashville, where warmer temperatures linger into October, mid-fall is when leaf color change is at its peak. 

When Do the Leaves Change in Nashville, TN? 

In western and middle Tennessee, the second half of October and the first week or two of November will be when the colors are most prevalent. Some green may still be in the mix during October, with more brown leaves present as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. For an interactive nationwide map to track the season’s progression of leaf color change, check out smokymountains.com’s fall foliage map.

Why Leaves Change Color

As the northern hemisphere eases into fall, leaves will change color as the weeks progress based on how far north or south a location is. This is because the cooler temperatures and fewer hours of sunlight trigger a tree’s dormancy. Since the leaves of deciduous trees (those that lose their foliage in fall) have thin, moisture-rich tissue, they get damaged when they freeze. By dropping these leaves, the trees are protecting themselves from the harsh winter season. 

As there’s less and less light throughout each day, trees produce less chlorophyll. Each tree then produces less energy and begins to direct any energy made to its roots, where sugars and other carbohydrates are stored to make it through the cold and dark months of winter. When less of the green chlorophyll is contained in the leaves, the true color of the leaf tissue is shown: these are the reds, yellows, oranges, golds, and browns that are visible when the tree stops its chlorophyll production for the year. 

The leaf drop of deciduous trees is in contrast to evergreen trees, whose dense and sap-filled needles are able to withstand frosty and freezing temperatures. These trees hold onto their leaves and continue to produce chlorophyll throughout the year without a dormant phase. Some trees, like the American beech (and some oaks, particularly young pin oaks), hold onto their dead leaves over the winter, providing a certain interesting atmosphere where they’re found.

What Factors Affect Leaf-Viewing Season?

While the start of fall begins the descent into the darker and cooler part of the year, there are other factors that may affect the substance of the leaf-viewing season. A wet summer may produce a more robust, full canopy that can hold its leaves a little longer, while a drier season can result in more stressed trees whose leaves may drop more easily. An early first freeze might also result in some trees letting go of damaged leaves earlier in the season. A stormy fall will affect the length of the tree’s colorfulness since heavy wind and rain can knock off some of a tree’s autumnal leaves before they would have otherwise dropped. 

Where Can I See Leaves Change in Nashville?

There are many wonderful opportunities to see the leaves change throughout fall in Nashville. While parks and arboretums in the city make great destinations for family outings and photos, there are also lots of ways to watch the progression of the color change each and every day. 

Due to the city’s thousands and thousands of trees of all shapes and sizes located on residential properties, simply taking walks or drives around town, whether on your way home or on a stroll for pleasure, can yield great results. Thanks to the Shelby Avenue Arboretum, a community tree-planting project that connects East Nashville and Shelby Park (an excellent site itself for leaf-viewing), the avenue provides a spectacular array of trees along the nearly two-mile route. Scenic Natchez Trace, as well as the Cumberland River, sport a trail of trees of their own.

Keep in touch with us for more news and blog posts by subscribing to our newsletter! If you’re interested in volunteering with the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, learn more about getting involved on our website. And if you didn’t already know, fall is the best time to plant new trees! Browse our tree sale to add to your own yard’s landscape attraction.