Question
I got a reply saying it could be caused by drought. (leaves dried up and fell off tree early fall) I have scraped the bark and the branch is green so, I am thinking I have not lost the tree. I do not know if there is an answer to my next question. Why did it happen to my tree and not my neighbors? I feel that I watered mine more and even gave it a little miracle grow. I live in middle North Carolina, and their trees are full of nice green leaves that are just starting to change to fall colors. Aside from that, the important thing is that I do not think I have lost the tree so, is there anything I should be doing to prepare the tree for the winter to help?

Answer
If the color under the bark is green the tree is still alive. Do not know the answer about why your tree--we have trees in our neighborhood park a couple did the same thing but others near them are ok. we Watered the ones that were dropping leaves and this stopped the leaf drop.  It has something to do with the root system of that tree and the ground it is growing in.

I would lay off the miracle grow since this can burn the roots if given too much. The tree seems to have shut down for the winter already so there is not really anything that should be done to prepare it fro the winter. I would think the tree will leaf out just fine next spring.