So I recently planted a small Chinese Redbud in the front yard. I put newspaper and mulch around the base. But things went bad! First the leaves started dying and falling off. I thought it was just shock from being replanted. But the remaining leaves look really bad! There are new leaves growing but they are looking bad too. HELP!! I really want this tree to live! I have been watering it every other day with a lot of water, maybe too much? The underside of the mulch is damp most of the time.

9/18/2011 12:38:38 PM

when did you plant it? you may have planted it too late. if thats the case, it will bloom in the spring. redbuds usually like wet environments.

9/18/2011 3:52:56 PM

I planted it back in mid August. I'm not expecting it to bloom, I just don't want it to die!

Is it normal for the leaves to die this early? I live in Charleston and the weather hasn't gotten below 65 yet

9/18/2011 4:59:47 PM

sometimes if you plant when it is really hot outside, the leaves will fall off and come back in the spring. im not an expert, just going off planting experiences

9/18/2011 5:24:38 PM

Maybe potassium deficiency?

9/18/2011 7:56:08 PM

Sounds like you are watering too much, espcially if the mulch is staying damp. If you transplanted that long ago you shouldn't need to keep watering as far as establishing the roots.

If it is potassium deficiency you would have seen the discoloration on the leaves for an extended period of time.

Looks to me like it is a fungus, maybe a blight or other virus. You should probably consult a tree expert as my background is purely in production crops.

9/18/2011 8:05:13 PM

You're getting toward the end of the growing season. As long as it has leaves you should be fine. You may need to cut back on the watering to 1 good soaking a week. I think you'll have leaves come next season.

9/18/2011 8:25:37 PM

make sure the mulch is in a ring similar to this:



the actual feeder roots are around the trunk of the tree.

9/18/2011 9:50:40 PM

I've never had much success planting redbuds either. I tried twice buying about 6' trees and had one die in the winter, the 2nd made it for about a year and then also died pretty much overnight. Pretty much gave up on having one now. They do make pretty trees with the way they grow short and wide.

9/18/2011 10:59:17 PM

the last image looks like thrips damage

that bronzing and the cholorosis reminds me of either broad mite or virus, respectively

if its a virus theres nothing you can do

[Edited on September 19, 2011 at 9:15 AM. Reason : d]

9/19/2011 9:13:28 AM

Quote :

"I've never had much success planting redbuds either. I tried twice buying about 6' trees and had one die in the winter, the 2nd made it for about a year and then also died pretty much overnight. Pretty much gave up on having one now. They do make pretty trees with the way they grow short and wide."

Every year I pull up, cut, or mow over hundreds of Redbuds. I can't stop them from growing in my yard and I'm thinking of taking out my mature Redbuds just because the seedlings are such a nuisance. I don't know if you're looking for something special, but if you want some hardy Redbuds that seem to thrive in Raleigh with no work I could probably find a few in my yard right now for you.

[Edited on September 19, 2011 at 10:57 AM. Reason : l]

9/19/2011 10:57:25 AM

^ I live in SC now, but I'd take you up on that if I was in the area. I believe the type I tried growing was an Eastern Redbud. The shape of the tree would have been perfect to add some backyard privacy as my nieghbors house sits higher than mine and it would have blocked their veiw nicely.

We're moving any how so I'm not trying to plant anything new. Thanks for the offer.

9/19/2011 11:24:56 AM

^ No problem. I have two "bunches" of Redbuds. Mine are not very thick on foliage. The fully mature trees are probably 14' high and the ones I let grow about 5 years ago are over head high now.

I just pulled a whole grocery bag full of seed pods off my Redbuds hoping it will prevent them from sprouting so many new trees. I think I'm going to toss those seeds out in various places I hike just to see what happens.

[Edited on September 19, 2011 at 11:38 AM. Reason : s]

9/19/2011 11:37:21 AM

whats up with the newspaper? sounds extraneous to me. looks like anthracnose or alternaria on the leaves. check the stems and see if you find any cankers. if so, you should prune them away, sterilizing the pruners with alcohol and preferrably flame before each cut. remove the damaged leaves, even if it's most of them, it is close enough to fall anyway. don't let any old leaves accumulate under the tree this fall, or under any of your trees if possible. while they are good for the soil, old leaves let the fungus overwinter.


^there are old redbud seeds in your soil that are sprouting and of course mowing doesn't kill the existing seedlings right away. the seeds are dormant for at least 1-2 seasons after they fall from the tree and maybe for many years, but picking the pods will be good eventually. the pods can get a fungus that can eventually kill the tree as well.

9/20/2011 2:17:36 AM

you can have redbuds from me anytime. I can never get rid of them.

9/20/2011 7:02:17 AM