Question: My new shade tree has browned leaves. What did I do wrong?

Answer: There are several possibilities. It would help to know how long you have had it. If it’s a brand new tree, you probably didn’t protect it from the highway winds as you took it home. Even one mile at 30 miles per hour can ruin foliage. In that case the tree will usually come back. If you let it get too dry after you planted it, however, you’re just going to have to wait and see. Sometimes foliage can be singed by strong, warm winds in the spring, while the leaves are still new and succulent. Of course, it’s also possible that a tree that has been dug with some loss of roots in the process could be suffering transplant shock. If that’s the case, contact your nurseryman.