I feel bad. These guys are usually so helpful, and I sent you here. Wish I could help, but mine are in ground and I've not seen this condition. I'm just bumping it so someone hopefully has help for you.

You have a couple of things going on. The leaves that turn brown on the tips...and then turn all brown and drop is quite common. It is generally from salt burn. It is from salt in the water, and it will not usually do great harm (although the leaves drop). Also, the discoloration on that branch is sunburn. Until plants grow up and have a nice canopy...they are sensitive to sunburn. Paint branches white with dilute latex paint.

Jay, it's just black colored mulch on top. It's just normal potting mix and I think the pot is ehh 17'' across? I did not bare root the tree when I planted it.

It looks like maybe the mulch is making my soil too salty? I just googled salt burn and it looks like that could be the source. However, if it's my water that is salty, then won't leeching the tree make the salt problem worse?

Hey Avery, doubt the mulch is too salty. You can just water it thoroughly and the salt will run out. I've never had a salt problem with my potted avos, salt usually builds up in the ground. For me, the problem has always been root rot. Your tree is putting out new growth while the older, ugly leaves will fall away. Also, I'd say the potting mix and small pot is causing the problems -- they hate small pots and normal potting mix, at least in my experience. They're really hard to keep healthy. I've moved my trees from 15 gallons to 45 and that is probably too small for potted avocados.

But listen to Fireduck -- he's a true avo expert :)

Does that tree live right next to that wall? If so, keep eye on temp.

Only sunburn, browning normal, leaves changing and dropping happens all the time, especially at flower time.

My guess is the fruit will drop too.

I see a few problems: the spotted leaves are either a persa mite or fungus no a problem but the infected leaves will fall off. you should white wash the entire tree or move it to a shaded area until it starts to recover. how long have you had it were the brown tips there when you bought it? what have you fertilized with? i give even my new trees food. for small trees like yours if watering twice a week where i am its not super hot, i use a liquid b vitamin once a week for first month and make sure the ph of your water is below 7 i treat them like my blueberries and they love it more nutrient uptake. 5.5 - 6.5 is best. there are several ways to lower ph of water. twice a month i water with a dilution of ammonia sulfate which is 21-0-0 (2 tbs to 5 gal bucket of water.) that will push new growth. and once a quarter i add a little organic slow release avocado food, azomite. and i use a flower fert 2-10-10 before bloom time for heavy flowers... i have multiple trees in pots that are 10-15 ft tall and 8 ft wide heavely fruited. so you have to be on a good feeding schedule.