You've probably noticed a lot of leaves either turning yellow or falling to the ground this summer around High River.

Believe it or not, says the Town's Arborist Darlene Donovan, it's normal for the trees, thanks to a "lack" of water.

"That is surprisingly a result of drought. We have to look at over the Winter we had less snow than usual, which meant for a dry season. And in the Spring again, no rain until later on. It's almost a case of too little, too late."

Donovan says all the rain we've seen since the start of July didn't have as much of an impact as we might think.

"It came too late and a lot of the rain that we had were really heavy downpours, and that rain runs off. Doesn't have a chance for the trees to absorb those waters."

Donovan says it's a form of self preservation for Poplar, Ash and Elm trees to shed leaves during times of drought.

She says residents with boulevard trees are encouraged to give them lots of water in the Spring, which will make a big difference in the Summer.