Wood doesn’t believe the drought will likely result in significant tree mortality. But he said Nova Scotians should expect a less colourful autumn as trees naturally conserve resources by reducing the manufacture of some of the pigments that normally produce the season’s vibrant reds, yellows and oranges.
‘Their roots are shrivelled up’
Concerns about the steadfastness of trees have also cropped up as a result of the conditions.
“A lot of these trees are experiencing drought and their roots are shrivelled up, so to speak, and they are not as stable as they could be,” said Scott Holman, urban forestry supervisor for the town of Truro.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which begins each year on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30, peaks in late August and September. Atlantic Canada is more at risk for strong storms in late summer and early fall, which coincides with that peak.
Due to the prolonged drought, autumn leaves might not be as vibrant as Nova Scotians are accustomed to. (Anjuli Patil/CBC)
Duinker said maintaining the health of trees in both urban and rural settings is important in making them less vulnerable to toppling over or uprooting in a hurricane.