As the condition progresses, entire leaves may dry up, turn brown and become brittle. Leaves sometimes wilt rapidly, and when this happens, they may remain a pale green color, even though dried out.
Damage is usually more pronounced on the upper, windward, or southern side of trees.
Plants may lose many leaves prematurely during late summer and exhibit some twig dieback. Leaf scorch can be caused by adverse environmental conditions, such as soil compaction, transplant shock, nutrient deficiency, drought, salt toxicity, and weed killer injury. Leaf scorch is common in Montana due to cold soils and slow root growth. The loss of leaves is seldom fatal, but conditions causing leaf scorch should be corrected if possible because over time, they can cause the decline or death of the tree or shrub. Plants under stress are subject to secondary problems such as attack by insects or diseases.