Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil moisture at a depth of 3 inches.
- Check for white crusts on the soil surface.
- Observe if the browning is uniform across the tree.
Likely causes
Inconsistent watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry and crumbly to the touch several inches down. The leaves may feel brittle before they turn brown at the edges.
What to do: Water the tree deeply every 7 to 14 days. Ensure the water reaches the root zone rather than just wetting the surface.
Soil salt accumulation
PossibleHow to tell: A white crust may appear on the soil surface after watering. The leaf tips brown while the rest of the leaf remains green.
What to do: Flush the soil with a large amount of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid using chemical fertilizers near the base of the tree.
Find out what's wrong with your cottonwood
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal to see slight browning during very hot or windy spells. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly to the entire leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and apply a layer of mulch to keep the soil moisture steady.
Keep your cottonwood healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips?
- You can trim them for appearance, but it does not fix the underlying issue. Focus on watering instead.
- Does fertilizer cause brown tips?
- Yes, too much fertilizer can burn the roots and show up as brown tips. Use a balanced fertilizer sparingly.
More problems with Cottonwood
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.