Beginner Gardening: Apple tree leaves dying and turning brown, 4 by Soulsecho

Soulsecho wrote:
I have a new pound sweet apple tree that was doing fine . I did not expect fruit this year but there were two small apples growing on two of the branches. Three weeks ago the tallest branch began have brown leaves. Since the weather was hot, I thought it may be heat stress. I monitored the soil at the base of the tree to ensure that it had adequate water. Now, as you can see in the pictures, the dying leaves are spreading. I looked and I did not see any signs of aphids under the leaves. There are no brown spots on the leaves that I could see. If anyone has any answers, please let me know. This is my first fruit tree.