Hello,

Cottonwoods are considered to be weak-wooded and often break in storms or high winds. If you want to target where the roots are growing, aim at the dripline of the tree...where the canopy extends. Research as found that most water-absorbing roots are located here; not near the trunk.

Also, cottonwood are very high water users. Does it get lawn water during the summer? Or just what you provide via the sprinklers?

Hi again,

First, watering your lawn every day is not the most effective way of watering. Instead, lump all the time you're watering together and apply it 2-3 times per week. This will be a more effective form of irrigation.

Also, the tree may not be suffering from drought stress. Without photos or more information it could be from other cultural or environmental conditions.

Thanks again. I had assumed that the February record low was the culprit. I attached some pictures if you can glean something else from them. The branches that died were fairly low on the tree - it looks much better higher up. Any advice would be helpful to prevent branches from dying next winter. Thanks.

Hi again,

The tree looks really healthy. The branches that were lost may have been damaged or otherwise weakened, so the tree may have made the decision to stop sending resources to those branches (plant physiology is pretty cool). 

I would recommend that you continue to have regular pruning on this tree since it is close to your home. Have an arborist assess it and prune it every 3-5 years, as you're able.