Sudden Hickory Tree Death: Possible Causes and Next Steps

Investigate Before Acting

If a large hickory turns brown rapidly in hot, wet weather while nearby trees remain healthy, several factors could be at play: root disease, vascular wilt, lightning strike, or insect infestation.

Get a Professional Diagnosis

Collect leaf and twig samples and take them to your local cooperative extension office for lab analysis. They can identify pathogens or environmental causes.

Wait and Observe

Don't remove the tree immediately. Some trees can re-foliate the following spring if the root system survives. Monitor for signs of life in spring before deciding on removal.