Although I'm no expert when it comes to Arizona horticulture, I should think the plant will releaf when conditions are more to its liking. Is there a general pattern in the SW where this happens? I know one year-in April or May-I was visiting Albuquerque. It was quite green there at that time but the locals were saying that soon, all those leaves would be gone and things would take on their summer browns. If that is so, it suggests that aestivation-the ability of some organisms to go into a type of semi-dormancy when conditions get too dry-could be a factor in your area. But I'd better let somebody that actually knows something get in here on this.

+oM

I am not sure, it is usually super green and wonderful all the way through, though it has gone through a couple rough patches here and there so I think it is a strong tree for having weathered past times of less water. I do not think these trees usually go through any type of summer down time like you mentioned though i could be wrong.

I have never had it leaf out this way and am afraid that in the next 2-3 days it will shed all of the leaves! I watered it very deep yesterday but am hoping to get any advice on anything else that may help it keep the rest of it's leaves. I also don't know if I can over water it and hurt it more. I didn't plan on giving it more now for about 2 weeks.

In general, I would like to be able to tell you that you cannot overwater, being in the dry SW. But generalizations get one in trouble and since I'm not standing there looking at the situation, I could easily lead you down the wrong path. So, a couple other thoughts: First, has any construction work been performed in the general area of this tree recently? I see thin foliage at the tree's top and that is often a sign of root system damage. So, has any heavy equipment been in the area, any holes or trenches dug for anything? Second, if you would, take a close look at the bark up and down that portion of the trunk you can see from the ground. Look for tiny holes. some insects lay eggs in trees, usually just under the bark, and then when the larvae hatch and later pupate, they form exit holes. These holes are often shaped like the letter "D" but not always, and can be quite tiny, depending on species of insect. Now I'm not saying there is a borer of some type working the tree over, just that we want to be able to rule that out.

Any other signs of symptoms? Any small piles of sawdust-looking material at the base of the tree? I'm still mining (bu dum bum) the same territory-that of borer insects. But that does not mean your tree has this problem.

Finally, assuming no insect issue is identified, please refrain from blindly applying "some pesticide" to the tree, in the hope of somehow magically hitting the right target. It just doesn't work that way. Tree pests are often quite specific in their tastes, so one really needs to know what they're dealing with. Do pay attention to water management though. This means that if things are too dry in your locale for proper tree health, it may be time to water, keeping in mind that a tree of this size has roots running all over the place, not in some neat little bundle right next to the base of the trunk! One really needs to water the yard to water their trees. Refrain from any fertilizer use as that can stress the plant out even more. Then let us know what happens down the road.

+oM

its basically september ...

how and when trees go dormant.. can vary wildly ...

in my MI.. i am not overly concerned.. this time of year... if trees look ugly.. and are in decline ..

fall is triggered by the decline in the sun ... and things are slowly moving toward winter dormancy ... or maybe down your way.. winter slow down ...

one thing for sure... its stressed.. not hungry ...

the water is fine.. otherwise... as the farmers say.. there is always next year ...

i always fear ... that anything i can dream up ... will not be good for the tree ... its been there for may years ... so i dont know why .. all of a sudden ... its should have major problems.. my default being.. its just been a bad year ...

ken

Tacham, does your Chinese elm hold on to its leaves throughout the winter in your location? I'm just curious, having lived in a location where these trees were predictably evergreen.

Tom did such a good job in explaining some thing to watch out for and consider. I would just like to emphasise the effect that high temperatures and lack of rainfall can have on trees.

The vast majority of tree roots are very, very shallow. Conditions such as yours can kill roots, make no mistake. The good thing is that those shallow, fibrous roots will begin to regenerate once the extreme conditions go away.

Another thing to remember is that trees have a finite lifespan. They begin to decline in little ways, just as we measly humans do, after they reach their peak. Age makes them less able to recover from traumatic event.

As your tree ages, it may need extra watering in times of severe heat and drought...not only to prevent problems but to aid in the recovery.

It's VERY important to water your tree now and throughout the fall. A strong, vital root system is the only way our woody trees prepare for next year. "There's always next year" is not a good philosophy to adopt.