fruit tree issues - Ask Extension
My Honeycrisp apple tree started the spring with nice green leaves and flowered out. Since then the leaves have turned brown and are falling off the t...
Knowledgebase
fruit tree issues #942147
Asked August 11, 2026, 12:25 PM EDT
My Honeycrisp apple tree started the spring with nice green leaves and flowered out. Since then the leaves have turned brown and are falling off the tree. Also, the fruit has all rotted on the branch.
I also, have a Golden Honeycrisp next to it and the ends of the branches are dying and some fruit is rotting from the blossom end.
Big Stone County Minnesota
Expert Response
It could be suffering from drought stress. Symptoms are:
Uniform wilting or browning of leaves throughout the tree.
Leaf margins and branch extremities usually brown first.
Severe drought stress may cause dieback of individual branches.
All of these symptoms fit with your description. Here is a link to information on watering trees to reduce the risk of drought tree: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-established-trees-and-shrubs
Paul -Tree Care Advisor volunteer
