Why Has My Virginia Creeper Stopped Turning Red

Question

Our house is 162years old. We have lived in it for 38 years. We bought it with the Virginia Creeper on the front south facing wall. It’s leaves always turned a beautiful red every September but over the past 3/4 years they just fade to yellow/brown before falling. I wondered why the change had occurred.

Answer 1

Weather us one of the things that mostly affects fall foliage. You need dry,sunny and cool -but not frosty cool- days. The plant's variety and enough soil nutrients also help. Any unusually warm trend would delay the arrival of the missing "cool but not frosty cool" requirement. Because weather changes every year and because of a typically warming trend for the last few years, fall foliage may get delayed or you may not get much if the leaves fall before the cooler weather arrives. Note: fall foliage forecasts may not take into account currently warmer temps (most forecasts use "average" temperatures).

Answer 2

It may have lost its vigor over the years. It also could be suffering from a fungal infection that reinfects each year due to fallen foliage. One thing you can do is pick up all the fallen foliage and remove it to the trash. This will help prevent reinfection the next year. In the spring as it is regrowing, spray it with neem oil to help stop new fungal infections.