do not up the water.. without checking the soil ... how new is this tree???? your note indicates that it was a big investment.. so may i presume it is newer .. this year???? any sizable transplant will take a few years to regrow enough roots to support the tree ... so browned leaves are not uncommon .. with a tree.. i would err toward 'proper' water ... as compared to trying to drown it .... the only way to know if you are watering properly ... is to water it.. and then dig a SMALL hole with a hand shovel.. and see just how far down the water is actually getting... i would prefer one good deep soak a month .. to something like a sprinkler for 15 minutes a day ... you have to insure that water is getting down to the root level ... as to the holes in the leaves ... lol .. i would trim the tree up high enough that you don't see them ... lol .... i surely would not use chemicals on leaves that stay attached to the tree for the whole season .. they are still doing their work feeding the tree.. holes or not ... bugs come.. bugs go.. good years.. bad years ... but unless they are de-nuding the tree completely .. i just don't see where chemicals will get you anything positive.. in fact.. spraying of chemicals at the time the leaves are unfurling can burn the baby leaves.. and you will be further behind than if you left it alone ... on the other hand .. if its been in place for 5 years.. i might change my mind.. lol ken

As noted Sevin dust is extremely toxic to bees. They can get the dust on their hairs and carry it back to the nest where is kills the whole nest. Dusts and emulsifiable powders are more toxic then other formulations. I personally would NEVER use Sevin dust but that is my choice, yours may be different. Sevin kills beneficials and then you can experience a worse problem with other pests. (ie spider mites and aphids) It only 'suppresses' stinkbugs so control is limited with this chemical. I can usually catch by hand (using a plastic baggie) big groups of SB nymphs as they congregate together. I think I will try an insect vacuum during the next season. I have also hit them directly with a pyrethrin based spray (as opposed to spraying everything whether I see them or not) but read it only stuns them so once again I would make an effort to retrieve them. Univ. Of Calif. recommends as a natural control kaolin clay (surround) "KAOLIN CLAY# (Surround) 30-50 lb 4 0 MODE OF ACTION: Unknown. An inorganic insecticide that protects fruit surface from feeding. COMMNTS: Kaolin clay does not appear to kill stink bugs directly but is quite effective in protecting the fruit surface from feeding. Begin applications when stink bugs are present and fruit are mature green to pink. Apply to protect the surface of the fruit; canopy penetration is essential. A repeat application may be needed if fruit reaching the susceptible stage are not coated. Kaolin clay application results in a thick, white deposit that coats the foliage and fruit and must be washed from the fruit, limiting its potential for use. " I already have Surround so I will also try that but I am very bad at anything that needs to be sprayed repeatedly. I would imagine such a thick coating may also discourage birds and other pests. Here is a link that might be useful: Excellent stinkbug pics/plus monitoring trap

It's in the ground but recently planted. Thanks for the advice. I have some organicide....thinking of a preventative spraying. Noticed this morning the eggplant next to it has some of the same holes. And did see a flying gnat looking insect on a leaf. Is that a flea beetle?

If the traps work for you, that is great but people should know that they stink before they buy. I have a well. The pump uses electricity. Buckets of water work to flush the toilet in summer outages. My fly trap was knock you over stinky and you could smell it for a distance. If I lived in town I wouldn't use one. Don't put them down low because my dog chewed a hole in the first one I got (nothing new) but the stink was attractive to him. I got them for flies that were in the barn. I think you should catch one of your flies and have it identified. Some of the flies in my garden are Trachinid. They looked like house flies to me before I saw one biting a big hornworm. I am not sure the good flies would be attracted to the stinky trap because some of the good ones like nectar. Here is a link that might be useful: flies