Cottonwood

[robw]

I live in Phoenix, AZ. I have this large cottonwood in my backyard. It was doing fine until about 3 weeks ago, the leaves started turing brown and falling off. Someone mentioned beetles. I found what looks like a quarter sized hole bored in the trunk. Could beetles have caused this condition and is there anything I can do to save my tree. It is a great shade tree and we definitly need the shade. Any help would be great thanks, Robert

 

[Darin]

They definitely could have damaged or killed your tree. I would say if the leaves already turned brown and have fallen off. You probably arent going to save your tree. If the beatles have made it all the way around the tree they probably girdled the tree and thats why you saw such a sudden change.
Darin

You might want to get an arborist out there for a second opinion.