Question: My cottonwood tree loses lots of leaves by mid-summer every year. Is it just the heat, or is there a problem?

Answer: This is a problem of many large-leafed, fast-growing shade trees, but cottonwoods rank at the top of the list. It is caused by heat and low humidities combined with a lack of rainfall. The tree puts all that new growth on during the cool, moist days of spring. The “wall” of summer heat is quite a shock to it, and that’s when the leaf drop begins. Keep the tree moist, and keep the rake handy.