There are clear impacts of drought, such as poor crops and increased fire danger. But the affect that drought has on Minnesota\u2019s trees can be less obvious \u2014 and take longer to become evident.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually pretty problematic,\u201d says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator with the University of Minnesota Extension.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s not just a stress in a single season that impacts them. It can compound over years, so we can actually see drought stress, in particular, start showing up in trees five, six, seven years down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result, says Irish-Hanson, can eventually lead to trees dying in some cases. It also becomes a problem looking ahead to this winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the ground is dry, the soil is dry. It cools down \u2026 more quickly than if there\u2019s moisture in the soil. And tree roots in particular, and our perennial plants, the root systems: They\u2019re way more susceptible to cold damage than the above-ground parts,\u201d Irish-Hanson said.<\/p>\n
![\"Looking](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/40c462-20260903-trees01-600.jpg\")
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Trees reach for the sky at Carver Lake Park in Woodbury on Sunday. The eastern Twin Cities metro area has been in severe to extreme drought in recent weeks, which can cause long-term problems for trees.<\/p>\n
Phineas Pope | MPR News<\/p>\n
As for this year\u2019s fall color, Irish-Hanson says the drought means it might be for a shorter window and a little earlier in some parts of the state. The dry conditions are causing leaves to feel thinner, more dry and papery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose leaves are generally going to kind of turn a dull yellowish color and go more quickly to a brown before they drop off from the trees,\u201d Irish-Hanson said.<\/p>\n
The total effects will depend on the species and how bad the drought is in specific areas. But there are some trees more susceptible than others. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe love sugar maples, but they aren\u2019t particularly great with drought \u2026 and so we might not see as robust colors from them for as long an amount of time, if you\u2019re in an area with severe drought,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
So, what can we do? If you have trees in your yard or in your care, water them. Irish-Hanson says watering for a long time infrequently is more effective than running a sprinkler for a few minutes every day.<\/p>\n