Question
Raywood Ash?
I am in northern CA east of San Fransico 50 miles where temps reach upwards to 105 degrees. I planted a raywood 24gal. 3 months ago in late May. It is an area that gets some water build up,but, until a heat wave hit 3 weeks ago and temps reached 110 to 113 degrees. This tree simply started dropping leaves, green leaves. We thought because we were watering more in the heat that the water caused this. So for the last 1 1/2 weeks we pulled back on water to let the groud under neath dry out and then it seemed like it needed water. 2 nights ago I watered the tree directly with 3 gals and it didn't drop leaves that night,but, yesterday I came home and the leaves are dried out and curled,but, the new growth is fine on the very ends of the branches. We dug down today 1 1/2 feet and the soil ( which is red clay) is moist. Any suggestions?

Answer
Sounds like it is getting too much water and the clay is holding the moisture. Water it every third day if it does not rain. If it rains water it only weekly, use only 1 inch of water each time you water (place a pan under the tree and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop.