Been away a few weeks and got home yesterday and saw 2 of my sweetgums are dropping leaves. Both have lost their tops at some point over the years before I owned the property if that makes a difference. Are they dropping early because of drought? Do I need to figure out a way to water or feed them? I really don't want to lose these 2 as they are some of the bigger ones in this part of the property.

Probably a water issue. Tons of trees dropping leaves right now. A lot dieing too.

How far are you from a water source?

There's a pond on the other side of that truck. Its getting low though.

I have a lot of established Post Oak trees doing the same thing. I assume heat stress.

Between the February ice storm and this heat, my trees are having a rough year.

Assuming the water in the pond isn't that much below grade, 12v transfer pump and toro oval hose.

Or find a 240 gallon plastic tote.

Your problem is owning Sweetgum Trees.

If you like to walk around barefoot, I suggest not owning them.


My sweetgums do that every hot summer. To date, I have not had one of the 20ish die.

Sweet gums are pretty in the fall and that makes it worth it.
My one sweetgum is dropping leaves and is heat and drought stressed big time.

This thread is making me feel a little better.

I have had an inordinate amount of downed limbs since we have owned the place and 2 oaks are dead now and I dont really want to lose any more trees. Another 15" diameter tree in the woods behind my house broke in half the other day so I think there is a lot of stress on these trees right now.

Yeah, we've been losing water oaks on our property since we bought the house 8 years ago. Just had 6 taken down and stumps ground.

3 weeks later, I see two more small ones have died. I suspect one may have been a delayed death from a lightning strike several months ago. But the other...no idea other than just too dry.

I've got a soaker hose around the bottom of my oaks and elm in the front yard, hoping to keep them from stressing too much. I wish we could deal with one at a time....either excessive heat or drought. But both at the same time is killer.

Looks like heat/drought stress. I'm in SETX and it looks like mid-October around here with the leaf fall.

That's where we are at.

Lost 6 trees in the last drought, will probably lose another 6 or 7 this year.

Might just cut them all down and be down with it.

Psycho Bunny said:

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Lost 6 trees in the last drought, will probably lose another 6 or 7 this year.

Might just cut them all down and be down with it.

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that is a loser attitude.

i have 1.5 acres and try to plant at least 5 new things per year.

Even an oak on the bank of my pond is turning brown