A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees Redbud Tree Issue

Anyone have suggestion on what I should do to restore this once beautiful tree? Top looks dead but many new sprouts at bottom?

I'd make sure the top is dead - snap a few branches and see if they're green. I'd prune all the dead that I could and get rid of it. I'd check the new growth for any type of disease or bug (why did the top die) then I'd fertilize it and water the fertilize in if using granular. I would be tempted to cut it off at the root which is where it appears to be growing from.

Thanks very much!! I think I will try checking to see if the top is really dead. I think some of the upper branches split because of heavy winds back during the winter

Keep us posted on what you figure out. Someone else may come along and benefit from your information.

Thanks again, I didn't have the heart to lop off the entire trunk so I let it be during the summer . The branches and leaves at the bottom are now reaching up into where the branches died. I did find a split in the trunk near the top and I have suspect the tree was sllit by moving around during high winds last winter. Once the leaves drop, I plan to cut the trunk off and remove the lowest leaf bearing branches. Then see what happens after next winter! Thanks for everyone insights!

Hope it does really well for you.

These are the final shots before winter!

Beautiful, I had a purple smoke tree with the same issue. I just recently cut back the main trunk....the side shoots took over.

Wow. Beautiful.

Thank you! I hope I can keep it alive!

I also cut the main trunk back dnd keeping my fingers crossed about what happens after the winter! Good luck to you as well!