Poorly Crabapple?

I have noticed that the crabapple leaves are dropping - brown and crispy and quite small. There are some larger leaves towards the top of the tree and end the ends on the branches but it generally looks quite unwell.

The tree was planted about 12 years ago and has been doing quite well and is about 20ft or more tall now.

We also have a flowering cherry close by and this is perfectly happy

Has this been seen anywhere else this year? I don't think it is any of the disesaes I have found mentioned on the internet. The garden has been quite dry recently so wonder if it is just a lack of water. It blossomed quite well earlier in the year.

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

Have you got a few pictures, of tree and the dead leaves, branches etc.
It could just be drought.

 

Thanks for the reply Pete. I have taken a few but not the best

 

One of the tree - excuse the car wash mitt

 

It doesn't look good, does it.
Apart from drought or the recent heat I'd not like to guess.

 

No - I thought I would ask to see if any other experience had seen this.

I do wonder if it is actually apple scab and hopefully it should be OK next year. From what I have read it could have been the damp cool spring that allows the fungus to get into the new leaves. I shall be out this weekend clearing up any dead leaves and keeping on top of keeping the area free of dead leaves

It is a nice screen for the houses behind and would hate to lose it and have to start again.