Yellow Leaves on Kentucky Coffee Tree?

Last June I planted a $60.00 Kentucky Coffee Tree. I watered it well all last summer. It just recently turned warm here, in the 80s, and I got to thinking that my 2 baby Kentucky Coffee Trees near it, very little saplings, might need watering. I had thought the big tree was probably established.

I was shocked to see some very yellow leaves on the large Kentucky Coffee Tree, near the bottom of where it leafs out, and some higher, too. Do you think it could be suffering from drought? I watered it well, but I am worried. I had read they are drought tolerant, once established. But I also read they need to be well watered their first two years. I also noticed one of the smaller ones has a yellow leaf or two.

Or do you think the yellow leaves could be a sign of a different problem? I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of the yellow leaves on the larger trees have turned dry and fallen off.

Someone suggested iron chlorosis, but I found a link that says Kentucky Coffee Trees are one of the trees least susceptible to getting iron chlorosis. I will post some photos of the leaves, and seek your opinions

Okay, someone in this neighborhood must know something about the Kentucky coffee tree.

Here is what Wikipedia says, "The tree is typically long-lived, healthy trees living from 100 to 150 years; however they often appear dead for the first six months of its growth. This is because the Kentucky Coffeetree sheds its leaves early during the fall and therefore appears bare for up to 6 months. The naked appearance of the tree is reflected through the Kentucky Coffeetree's Greek genus name: γυμνοκλαδυς = 'naked branch.'"

I wonder if this is what is going on, GardenGeisha. Certainly, I know nothing and don't even know if I've seen them.

Steve

I wonder whether the soil around the growing roots of the bigger tree is too compacted, causing them to struggle? Last summer I watered it a lot, getting it established, but I'll bet it has outgrown the good soil I put around its rootball. I may have to keep it very well watered to keep it alive. This is what I suspect. The smaller saplings don't seem affected, but their roots are probably still growing within the good soil?

Thanks, Digit, for the good info. These trees are supposed to be super hardy. That is why I am surprised it seems to be unhappy, all of a sudden. It did so well last summer, and I planted it when it was 90 degrees out-- much too hot for tree planting, but it adapted so easily. But, like I say, I did keep it very wet. I think I'd better deep water it a lot.