A redbud is cared for in three stages: deep watering while it establishes, structural pruning while young, and deep watering, slow release feeding, and dead wood removal once mature. Because a redbud grows 12 to 18 inches a year to about 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide, a spot with room to spread comes first.

Why does a redbud need different care at each stage?

Because a redbud's needs shift with age. A young tree is building roots, a tree in its middle years is setting its branch framework, and an older tree needs watching for problems such as canker and verticillium wilt.

How is a young redbud planted and watered?

In spring or fall, in a hole at least 3 times as wide as the root ball and no deeper than it grew, then watered deeply about once a week.

Where a young redbud has a single trunk 1 to 8 inches across and branches at least 25 inches off the ground, a Treegator Original Slow Release Watering Bag filled once a week releases water slowly at the base.

How is a redbud pruned as it grows?

Lightly, mostly in its early years. Narrow, V shaped forks, which split more easily than wide angled ones, are removed to leave a few well spaced main branches, cuts are made soon after flowering, and dead wood is removed whenever it appears.

How is a mature redbud kept healthy?

With deep, infrequent watering and a spring feeding. To give an established redbud the slow release nitrogen named on TreeHelp's redbud profile, TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer: Redbud is applied in spring once the soil warms, and one application feeds the tree through the whole growing season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a redbud tree live?

Commonly around 20 to 30 years in home landscapes. Good siting, deep watering, and early pruning help a tree reach the longer end of that range.

Why does a redbud flower on its trunk?

Because redbuds bloom on older wood as well as young twigs. Flower clusters on large branches and even the trunk are normal for the species.

Can a redbud grow with several trunks?

Yes. Many redbuds naturally form a few trunks, and a multi stem tree is kept healthy by removing weak or crossing stems while young.

Should redbud seed pods be removed?

Not usually. The flat pods are harmless and drop on their own, so removal is only a matter of tidiness on small trees.