My folks have a 50' sycamore in the backyard here in San Antonio and as it's surely known we're in the middle of a significant drought. The tree is about 35 years old and holds sentimental value for my Mom, so she's slightly worried that since it started losing it's leaves a week ago that it could be on it's way out.

We have a root feeder that I was planning on trying on it this weekend but I'm a worried that with such a massive root system for such a large tree that it will do little good. Is this the end for the tree once it loses all of it's leaves or might it come back next spring?



[This message has been edited by p_bubel (edited 8/5/2009 12:07p).]

I dont know that there is much you can do. I have some various trees about that size whose leaves are drying up completely and falling off. I just tried setting the water hose out and turning the faucet on for several ours in an attempt to get water down to the roots. You will need MASSIVE amounts of water for that tree, so if there is a watering restriction in place, there isnt much you can do about it.

Hopefully someone else can help, but it is my understanding that the tree may just be coping with the drought by losing leaves, and eventually some branches to get itself to a sustainable level. Of course the stress of that causes secondary problems too. I hope someone has a solution for you, good luck.

[This message has been edited by jed1154 (edited 8/5/2009 12:00p).]

The tree is probably at the end of its life. They don't live forever.

It looks pretty healthy for a drought to me. It may be dropping leaves and going dormant to protect itself. The leaves are where the tree loses its moisture, so if it drops many leaves, it slows its own loss rate.

I've heard and may be bs that if the tree looses the leaves then it will be ok but if they die and stay on the tree it's a gonner.

I think there is a certain amount of truth to that. Trees will drop leaves from living limbs, but dead limbs don't drop leaves, because the mechanism by which the leaves are ejected from the limb doesn't occur if the limb itself is dead.

Dropping leaves is a good sign, rather than them dying on the tree.

I would also suspect some sort of insect problem. It appears that the most severe problem is limited to a few branches. An insect could have eaten the leaves, or bored into the tissues of the tree. Can you inspect a little closer?

Trees drop leaves in drought in self defense... but it's kind of weird to see only one portion of the tree drop like that.

Thanks for the help y'all. I'll give the tree a closer look tomorrow. (It's losing leaves all over and started where those bare spots are now.- maybe it's just progressed farther there?)

My bur oaks do this,drop their leaves early in a drought.

They come back just as strong the next spring.

I live in Giddings and with this drought I have seen a large number of pecan trees dying. Large trees, I always thought that they had such a great root system to survive. There are trees dying every where except mesqite.

I take it you haven't been watering your back yard?

Just the once a week allowed and not enough to really soak the soil.

Pecan trees will lose their leaves and come back. So will the Syc.