Is my redbud tree going to die? - Ask Extension
I have 2 redbud trees that we planted in the backyard 3 summers ago. One of them is showing signs of heat and drought stress. By the time I noticed ...
Knowledgebase
Is my redbud tree going to die? #881065
Asked August 11, 2024, 6:13 PM EDT
I have 2 redbud trees that we planted in the backyard 3 summers ago. One of them is showing signs of heat and drought stress. By the time I noticed it and started watering it, it probably was too late to make a difference. The other tree looks fine. They are planted in a horizontal line about 8 feet apart. The yard gets the afternoon sun as it faces west. I went to the garden center where I got the trees and they suggested adding mulch and using a fertilizer called Tree Zone, both of which I did. I am worried that the tree is going to die. I don't know if the recent rain from Debbie will help revive it or not. Please advise!
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
We don't think that you are going to lose the trees in your photos.
The last couple of years of intense heat and prolonged lack of rain have been stressful on many of our landscape plants, including even large trees with more mature root systems.
You can prune out any dry, dead branches on the tree in your first photo. Depending on what you are left with you may need choose a new leader (top) and shorten one/more of the side branches. Here is our pruning page on how to do this and to make the best cuts:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pruning-trees-home-landscape/
Watering when needed (if we don't get an inch of rain a week (you can put a tuna can out to measure) during the first couple of years of root establishment is important. Here is the best way to make sure the water is getting where it needs to:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
We'd suggest widening the mulch ring out to the drip line of the trees. It should be no more than 2-3" deep and kept pulled back from contact with the trunk. More on mulch here: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mulching-trees-and-shrubs/
You should be able to see a gentle widening or 'root flare' of the trunk before a tree goes into the ground. If it goes in straight like a telephone pole it means it is either planted or mulched too deeply, which can stress/kill a tree in the long term, so remove mulch/soil until you can see the root flare.
Christine
The last couple of years of intense heat and prolonged lack of rain have been stressful on many of our landscape plants, including even large trees with more mature root systems.
You can prune out any dry, dead branches on the tree in your first photo. Depending on what you are left with you may need choose a new leader (top) and shorten one/more of the side branches. Here is our pruning page on how to do this and to make the best cuts:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pruning-trees-home-landscape/
Watering when needed (if we don't get an inch of rain a week (you can put a tuna can out to measure) during the first couple of years of root establishment is important. Here is the best way to make sure the water is getting where it needs to:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
We'd suggest widening the mulch ring out to the drip line of the trees. It should be no more than 2-3" deep and kept pulled back from contact with the trunk. More on mulch here: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mulching-trees-and-shrubs/
You should be able to see a gentle widening or 'root flare' of the trunk before a tree goes into the ground. If it goes in straight like a telephone pole it means it is either planted or mulched too deeply, which can stress/kill a tree in the long term, so remove mulch/soil until you can see the root flare.
Christine
Oh wow this is just what I need! Thanks so very much for having this service available. It's good to know the tree can survive.
Dawn
You're welcome, we are happy to help.
