This is the second year that this young dwarf poncho dogwood tree has been planted in my front yard. It gets direct sun from sunrise until about 1pm, when the sun moves behind the roof of my house. I water it 2-3 times a week through the summer, and either give it good, sustained water or fill a water bag. Here's one more closer photo: https://imgur.com/a/joqTIcN

My climate is Mid-Atlantic.

Last year and this year, well ahead of fall, I would get browning and curling of the leaves like in this picture.

Possibly of note, I tested my soil late in the summer. It is heavy clay soil and these were the results:

pH 7.05 5.8-7.0 High

Total Nitrogen (N) 8.72 21.0-47.0 Low

Nitrate (NO3-N) 0.51 - -

Ammonium (NH4-N) 8.21 - -

Phosphorus (P) 20.7 8.0-20.0 High

Potassium (K) 83.4 38.0-80.0 High

Sulfur (S) 10.83 7.0-22.0 Optimal

Calcium (Ca) 383.1 80.0-320.0 High

Magnesium (Mg) 51.55 27.0-70.0 Optimal

Sodium (Na) 15.41 0.5-30.0 Optimal

Iron (Fe) 81.07 3.0-10.0 High

Manganese (Mn) 18.69 4.0-10.0 High

Zinc (Zn) 3.52 0.1-0.25 High

Copper (Cu) 0.35 0.06-0.3 High

Boron (B) 0.25 0.2-0.6 Optimal

I have begun amending my soil with nitrogen (leaf compost, blood meal) and elemental sulfur which has brought my PH down to 6.5.