Thanks for the reply.

We’re just outside a city though and there’s no deer anywhere round here. We get foxes and cats but little else.

This browning is mainly on the inner, lower part of the tree which I wouldn’t have said was easily accessible for foxes or cats though. There’s another plant around the base of it which makes it even harder for them to access.

We had really cold temperatures and heavy snow earlier in the year if that could be a factor?

It’s also planted in a relatively shallow bed of soil... about 2 to 3 feet.

My main concern is that it’s disease or something else that needs treating to halt it.

Thanks again.