Hickory Leaf Drop: Summer Drought Adjustment, Not Disease

Healthy-looking hickory leaflets dropping on stems in early summer? The tree overproduced leaves in wet April, then "reconsidered" during dry weeks. It's balancing root-to-shoot ratio.

Parallel in Fruit Trees

Fruit trees set excess fruit in spring, then drop "June drop" surplus they can't ripen. Same principle: resource allocation adjustment.

No Action Needed

Rake debris for compost. By June, the tree reaches its preferred balance. Wind/rain will remove more. This is physiology, not pathology.