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The increasing darkness in the Northern Hemisphere this time of year "indicates to the plant that fall is coming on. So it starts recouping materials from the leaves before they drop off." Evergreens protect their needle-like foliage from freezing with waxy coatings and natural "antifreezes." But broadleaf plants, like sugar maples, birches, and sumacs, have no such protections. As a result, they shed their leaves. But before they do, the plants first try to salvage important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.