Stress can cause trees and shrubs to start the fall leaf dropping process early. Tough to say without more environmental details regarding what it was all subjected to this year...and last winter, for that matter. Where are you located?

tj

Thanks for the reply. I'm in the Washington DC metro area. I haven't really done very much supplemental watering or fertilizing since we moved in July.

dcbhit, many times, when I see this sort of disorder, I follow the branch backwards. Sometimes it is a mechanical break; sometimes a boring or girdling insect is the culprit. When it goes all the way to ground level, it can indicate a root disorder - serious surgery might be indicated.

First, it is important to accurately identify the shrub to know what kind of growing conditions or care it might need. You can try posting more detailed, close up photos showing leaves, stems and any flower remains here or on the Name That Plant forum.

Once ID'd, we can make some reasonable assumptions on what might be going wrong. While I realize this has been an unusual growing season for much of the country with extreme heat, dry, droughty spells and periods of intense rainfall, it is a bit difficult for me to contemplate a landscape needing NO supplemental watering since July!! In my area, that would be a guarantee of certain death! It's possible that this is just a sign of some progressive drought stress, hoverer we really need to know what kind of plant it is to be certain.

could a moving van have been parked there.. with the engine idling ... and burned the plant??/

ken