FAQ

I purchased two redbud trees last summer and watered them regularly, but they only have small shoots at the bottom two feet. Will they have new growth at the top, or is there no sign of life there?

It is very unlikely that the redbuds will resprout in the upper crown. The decline could be due to winter injury/low temperature injury. Newly planted trees are more prone to low temperature injury. Redbud is also sensitive to stem cankers, a disease that the girdle and kill trees. The sprouts from the lower trunk may be trained into a desirable tree but you may consider replanting with a hardier species such as crabapple or hawthorne.