Exercise Return Policy on Redbud?

10 years ago

Approximately 8 weeks ago, I had a local nursery deliver and install a Forest Pansy Redbud in my yard. I selected this particular tree because it had a relatively uniform shape. It was about 2.5" in diameter, the root ball was wrapped in burlap, and it had not yet leafed out. The nursery used a hydraulic tree spade to dig a hole, they planted the tree, built up the soil to retain water, and tied it down with Arbortie to keep it from blowing over.

Several weeks later, once it started flowering, I noticed that a number of branches on one side of the tree were dead. Since then, one of my kids came along and broke most of the dead ones off, so they are no longer visible in these pictures. But, as you can see, the tree no longer has a uniform shape. Also, some of the leaves look wilted. And while I've never had a Forest Pansy redbud before, it seems more brown than purple.

Bottom line is that I'm not sure if the tree is healthy, or whether it's going to make it at all. The tree has a guarantee and the nursery has already agreed to come out to replace it, but I'm just not sure if I should hold them to the guarantee or wait a while longer to see if it survives and, perhaps, gains a nicer shape in a couple years. What do you think?

Comments (6)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years ago
My vote is for waiting. Perhaps call them and send a pic.

Thanks to the drought and heat my redbuds look cruddy as well and they have been in the ground their whole lives lol.

Big transplant!
hortster
10 years ago
Second toronado's vote. Color looks OK to me, especially for a new 2-1/2" transplant. My experience with Forest Pansy is that it is "touchy" anyway. Redbuds do not move well when they are over 1 to 1-1/2" caliper unless they have a HUGE rootball and it is not unusual to lose a few branches. Wait and see!
hortster
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hortster
10 years ago
PS. Do NOT overwater!
hortster
nurseryman33
10 years ago
I would bet that the lower branches are dead on one side because it was too close to another tree at the nursery where it was grown.
whaas_5a
10 years ago
Huh? Redbud are extremely shade tolerant.

Looks completely normal to me. Sometimes you'll experience dieback depending on where the the largest roots are cut.

Just to re-emphasize don't overwater this plant. Moist not wet soil.
ritmatt
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the responses, folks. I'm glad I posted the question, because you answered differently than I thought you would.

I've only watered the tree once, but we have had about 7 inches of rain over the past 60 days or so. The soil felt pretty wet to me last time I went out there, but that was only a day or two after another good douse of rain. The landscape company that planted the tree built up the soil around it's base quite a bit more than they did with a similarly-sized dogwood elsewhere in the yard. Maybe I should thin it out so some of that moisture has a chance to evaporate?

I don't want to end up with an asymmetrical tree forever. Assuming it survives, do you think it will fill out on it's own? Or should I plan to prune the 'good' side to even things out?

Sorry for all the questions. i just want to do what I can to ensure a good looking, healthy tree.