Dead young redbud tree - Ask Extension
We planted this forest pansy redbud tree in our yard in Eugene OR in Jan 2023. Last spring a few of the branches didn't have any flowers or leaves (bu...
Knowledgebase
Dead young redbud tree #870852
Asked May 30, 2024, 7:03 PM EDT
We planted this forest pansy redbud tree in our yard in Eugene OR in Jan 2023. Last spring a few of the branches didn't have any flowers or leaves (but most of the tree did bloom and leaf out). This spring no flowers ever really formed and some small leaves tried to form but shriveled up pretty quickly and now the tree seems to be dead. Is there a way to tell if it was diseased or there was a watering issue? We thought we were giving it a lot of water for the first year or so but it is also in a very sunny and dry spot in our yard. Is it a bad idea to plant another redbud in that location or are there other trees we should avoid in case it was diseased? Any suggestions for a small, drought tolerant tree that would work in full sun? Thanks!
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
This looks like it may be due to water uptake problems. it is possible that the tree roots did not get established well enough to supply the tree. You should prune the tree branches back to see if any green life remains.
There is also a possibility that something like Verticillium wilt could have infected the tree. If you prune branches you may see a darkened center that could indicate, but not prove, that it is Verticillium wilt. The only way to know for sure would be to send a plant sample to a lab for testing. Oregon State University Plant Clinic provides this service for a fee - https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/plant-clinic/submit-sample/services-and-fees. This pathogen can linger in the soil. If it is in the soil you would want to plant something resistant like Apple, Crabapple, Dogwood, conifers, Gingko, Hawthorn, Mountain Ash, Serviceberry, Sweetgum. There is some evidence that soil solarization can help reduce pathogens in the soil. If you want to consider it, here is a description - https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html
There is also a possibility that something like Verticillium wilt could have infected the tree. If you prune branches you may see a darkened center that could indicate, but not prove, that it is Verticillium wilt. The only way to know for sure would be to send a plant sample to a lab for testing. Oregon State University Plant Clinic provides this service for a fee - https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/plant-clinic/submit-sample/services-and-fees. This pathogen can linger in the soil. If it is in the soil you would want to plant something resistant like Apple, Crabapple, Dogwood, conifers, Gingko, Hawthorn, Mountain Ash, Serviceberry, Sweetgum. There is some evidence that soil solarization can help reduce pathogens in the soil. If you want to consider it, here is a description - https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html
