Question
I have a 20' high 2nd year pink dawn Chitalpa tree. Right now all the new spring growth has brown burnt baby leaf tips. San Diego. Has been cold , now Santa Ana hot. Leaves just starting to come. Have watered a lot to make lawn green. Could over watering cause this? Really haven't changed watering practices much. Possibly over fertilized? In middle of lawn. Full sun . No problems last two years. Nice tree, shade, all summer flowers, grows fast. Love it, but all new growth (the first and only leaves of the year) have burnt tips. Did get powdery mildew last year live 2 blocks from beach, but this isn't that. Any suggestions? Thanks Jim Kydd San Diego - Just tips of one inch long but still very new leaves burnt all 1/2 to 1/4 inch leaves burnt completely.

Answer
Sounds like maybe herbicide damage. have you used a herbicide on the lawn? Possibly a weed and feed type fertilizer. This fertilizer contains a herbicide that will damage and/or kill trees. Watering would cause the entire leaf to wilt and I do not know of a disease that would cause the tips of the leaves to turn. My best guess would be the use of lawn herbicide especially a granular type. A picture might help. Sorry that is about all Ian think of without seeing the tree.