by MaryAnn Fink
Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Missouri’s native Redbud welcomes spring with contagious enthusiasm. Her giddy pink buds are not confined to just her outer branches, but also collect in condensed crowds in less likely places! This includes her branch crooks, crannies, and trunks! This random sprinkling of bud clusters seem like fairy size cheerleader squads preparing for this season’s playoff. The shade of pink is very noisy as it peaks and shouts for competition! (I do think I can hear some whispering shouts- or is that me wanting to join the color parade when the sign of warmer weather arrives!)
The Redbud likes living near her family and getting situated in her permanent home as early as possible. She is most adaptable when purchase her as a young sapling tree that has been sourced locally for best hardiness! Always ask your nursery professional about his plant sources and background details! Reputable nurseries keep that information, are willing to share and even brag about these green details of their native plants and are proud to offer their customers the most viable options to insure success!
Her placement is critical for both for viewing and longevity. The best location for her is where there is early season full sun and summer filtered shade. She is fine with average soil but wants fairly consistent moisture.
She can get sick especially when she is too stressed. For long life and significant contribution to the landscape, be sure to site her right. Help her have her best vigor by monitoring her growth responses and her moisture needs in extended drought situations. By the way, she has a reputation for being very chemically sensitive, so avoid using any turf products with 2-4D type ingredients.
Her growth needs to be managed during her formative years, so she does not develop crowded branching and weak forks. She has a natural tendency to develop a low branching habit sometimes with multiple trunks. In nature this shape allows her to adapt to best possible option for sunlight in an understory situation, but in a cultivated space, she may be able to retain her low set “v” and irregular growth habit and develop into a beautiful and graceful spreading ornamental tree.
You must stay watchful for irregular complex, congested growth and branching habits as your Redbud develops. I typically avoid purchasing specimens with these "growing" characteristics as they may lead to complicated pruning decisions. I have found from personal experience that specimens with these strong tendencies frequently "grow" to be structural issues that lead to un-repairable breakage and even early death.
Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Missouri’s native Redbud welcomes spring with contagious enthusiasm. Her giddy pink buds are not confined to just her outer branches, but also collect in condensed crowds in less likely places! This includes her branch crooks, crannies, and trunks! This random sprinkling of bud clusters seem like fairy size cheerleader squads preparing for this season’s playoff. The shade of pink is very noisy as it peaks and shouts for competition! (I do think I can hear some whispering shouts- or is that me wanting to join the color parade when the sign of warmer weather arrives!)
The Redbud likes living near her family and getting situated in her permanent home as early as possible. She is most adaptable when purchase her as a young sapling tree that has been sourced locally for best hardiness! Always ask your nursery professional about his plant sources and background details! Reputable nurseries keep that information, are willing to share and even brag about these green details of their native plants and are proud to offer their customers the most viable options to insure success!
Her placement is critical for both for viewing and longevity. The best location for her is where there is early season full sun and summer filtered shade. She is fine with average soil but wants fairly consistent moisture.
She can get sick especially when she is too stressed. For long life and significant contribution to the landscape, be sure to site her right. Help her have her best vigor by monitoring her growth responses and her moisture needs in extended drought situations. By the way, she has a reputation for being very chemically sensitive, so avoid using any turf products with 2-4D type ingredients.
Her growth needs to be managed during her formative years, so she does not develop crowded branching and weak forks. She has a natural tendency to develop a low branching habit sometimes with multiple trunks. In nature this shape allows her to adapt to best possible option for sunlight in an understory situation, but in a cultivated space, she may be able to retain her low set “v” and irregular growth habit and develop into a beautiful and graceful spreading ornamental tree.
You must stay watchful for irregular complex, congested growth and branching habits as your Redbud develops. I typically avoid purchasing specimens with these "growing" characteristics as they may lead to complicated pruning decisions. I have found from personal experience that specimens with these strong tendencies frequently "grow" to be structural issues that lead to un-repairable breakage and even early death.
Formative pruning become a challenge to reduce the size of lateral branches to less then half the diameter of the main trunk. It is recommended to always choose trees with ‘U’-shaped crotches, instead of those with narrow ‘V’ formations which will cause too “tight” crotches. Take time to look at the branching habit and compare trees to each other before making your selection. Look for branches spaced about 6 to 10 inches apart along the main trunk. Also note Redbuds have thin bark so be sure to create a "relief zone" at the time of planting-see previous blog entry about "relief zone" for trees!
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