The leafy streets have taken on an autumn-like appearance as the stressed plane trees go into survival mode, dropping their foliage in an effort to make it through the summer.

Albury gardener Prue Smith said the trees were losing their leaves because they “lacked water”.

“They will try to save their species if they are feeling at all threatened,” she said.

“All are feeling threatened because our drought has been going for six years or so.”

Mrs Smith said dropping their leaves meant the trees did not have to expend energy to retain their growth and it lessened their workload.

And low spring and summer rainfall hadn’t helped the harsh conditions.

The Border’s rainfall last year was about 220mm less than the average for the past 25 years, with just 494.6mm falling.

That total was 30mm less than in 2007.

Albury Council community arborist Leah Warburton said in the past eight years street upgrades had been done in Paine and Dight streets and the trees had sustained “significant root damage”.

“They have lost surface area of their root system,” she said.

“They do find the stress of yesterday’s temperatures much more difficult to deal with.”

But the council was looking after the trees and had attended to them in past years.