Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jed Kirschbaum

It has been a hot summer in the Mid-Atlantic, and everywhere else.

Seventeen nations have tied or broken summer temperature records, and the humans aren't the only ones suffering.

The hot weather is causing leaves to change color far ahead of schedule as the trees in our region fight to survive the heat and lack of water.

The stress can cause trees to produce pigments called anthocyanins, which turn the leaf red. The chemical helps leaves deal with stress and remain on the tree longer, allowing the tree to absorb nutrients.

In addition, the heat causes trees to redirect resources to its most vital parts, conserving water and energy by redirecting them to the trunk and causing the leaves to dry out and fall.

Be kind to your trees. Water them slowly and deeply.