Are you worried that your redbud tree is dying? Perhaps the leaves are turning brown or some of the branches look diseased and you’d like to know what’s going on. Keep reading. In this article, we’ll answer the question, how do you save a dying redbud tree? We’ll also talk about how to know if your tree is dying, what causes redbuds to die, and what to do if your tree is already dead.
What You'll Learn Today
How Do You Know If Your Redbud Tree Is Dying?
There are many early warning signs that your redbud tree may be in bad health. If you pick up on these signs early enough, you can potentially identify what is causing them and provide treatment in time to save your tree.
Some of the most common signs that your redbud is dying include:
- Wilted leaves: if some or all of the tree’s leaves appear wilted, this could be a sign of disease, pests, or lack of water.
- Black or brown leaves: often, leaves will turn black or brown after the wilt stage. This is a common sign of advancing disease or dehydration.
- Cankers or dark splotches on twigs and branches: certain diseases can cause cankers or dark spots to appear on your tree. These diseases will kill the tree if left untreated.
- Broken branches: broken branches can indicate that the tree is weak or not receiving the nutrients it needs. They can also leave the tree with open wounds, making them vulnerable to diseases.
- Branches with no new growth: bare, dead branches can be a sign that the tree is dying. Eventually, you may notice that the tree isn’t producing new branches or growth of any kind, which suggests it is nearing the end of its life.
- No sap flow: once a tree is no longer producing sap, it is dead. If you cut into a tree and it doesn’t produce any sap, it is most likely beyond saving.
If you have a redbud tree, it’s important to inspect the tree regularly for these signs of death. Again, early identification is key in providing the proper treatment to save your tree.
What Causes Redbud Tree Death?
Just as there are a variety of signs that point to a dying redbud tree, there are many different things that can cause a redbud to die. Some of the potential causes of death include:
- Diseases: redbuds are susceptible to an array of fungal diseases that can kill them over time. These diseases include verticillium wilt, dieback/canker, bacterial blight, and powdery mildew.
- Pests: sometimes pests can invade your tree and slowly kill it, typically by sucking the sap that gives the tree life. Common redbud pests include scale insects, borers, and aphids.
- Drought: some redbud trees are more drought-tolerant than others, but most need plenty of water to help them thrive, especially during periods of dry weather. If you’ve been experiencing drought in your area and your redbud tree appears to be dying, it may just need a good watering.
- Environmental stressors: sometimes environmental factors can place an undue amount of stress on redbud trees, killing them over time. These environmental stressors may include high winds, salt spray, and air pollution.
Among all of these, one of the most common redbud killers is verticillium wilt. Check out the video below to learn more about this disease and its impact on redbud trees:
How Do You Save a Dying Redbud Tree?
If you suspect your redbud tree is dying, the best thing to do is call a professional arborist right away to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. However, there are several things you can do yourself if you want to try to save the tree on your own.
- Water the tree well: if you suspect drought is killing your tree, use a soaker hose or sprinkler to provide a deep, thorough watering. Ideally, you should water the tree to the dripline for at least a couple of hours once a week or so, allowing the water to soak several feet into the soil and saturate the tree roots.
- Prune the tree regularly: immediately remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches from the tree, cutting below the diseased area in an effort to remove it entirely. It’s also a good idea to prune the tree for proper shaping each spring, as this will help it become stronger and healthier.
- Fertilize the tree: applying a balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer can provide an extra boost of nutrients to strengthen a struggling tree. While fertilizer won’t cure the tree of diseases or pests, it can give the tree a better chance of surviving any other interventions you provide.
- Monitor the tree: Check your tree routinely to see if any more branches are wilting or dying or if any other signs of poor health are appearing. Remove these problem spots immediately.
If you take action early, you may be able to save your redbud tree or at least extend its life. Following the tips above can go a long way in combating whatever is ailing your tree and helping restore it to health.
What Should You Do if Your Redbud Tree Is Dead?
Sometimes, despite all of your interventions, there is nothing you can do to save a redbud tree. If your tree dies, you will most likely want to remove it from your yard.
Dead trees can pose a hazard to people or structures, as they can be easily blown down in a high wind or may fall unexpectedly as they rot. If the tree is infected with a disease or pests, these may spread to other trees on your property, so it’s recommended to get rid of the dead tree as soon as possible.
If you want, you can plant a new redbud tree to replace the one that died. However, you’ll want to plant it in a different spot in your yard; planting it in the same spot as the old tree could lead to a higher chance of it being affected by the same pests, diseases, or environmental factors that killed the previous tree.
How Do You Care for a Redbud Tree?
Perhaps you’re wondering what you can do to prevent a redbud tree from getting sick in the first place. While there’s no way to fully prevent it from getting a disease or pest infestation, providing some basic care can give you a better chance of keeping your tree healthy.
- Water: when your tree is young, water it thoroughly once a week. Once the tree is established, there is no need to continue watering except during periods of drought; in these cases, continue the deep-soak watering until the dry period is over.
- Fertilizer: redbud trees don’t need to be fertilized, but applying a tree and shrub fertilizer annually can be beneficial. Follow the application instructions on the fertilizer packaging.
- Mulch: mulching your tree can help hold moisture in the ground and keep the roots cool during hot weather. Apply three or four inches of mulch to the dripline, keeping it an inch or two away from the trunk; mulch touching the trunk can lead to a greater risk of the tree developing a fungal infection.
- Pruning: it’s important to prune the tree to cut away excessive growth and help the tree develop a healthy branch structure. Cutting away any unhealthy branches can also help maintain the tree’s overall health.
By following these steps, you can help your tree reach its full potential and possibly prevent it from dying prematurely.
Conclusion
Redbud trees can be killed by diseases, pests, drought, and other environmental factors. To save a dying tree, you should water it, remove any dead or diseased branches, and provide fertilizer to help restore it to health.
