Rising Sun Redbud Tree Problems and Possible Solutions

There is no substitute for a rising sun redbud plant to enhance the beauty of your garden. Its beautiful shape and attractive foliage will impress anyone. But there are some problems that can spoil the beauty of your plant very easily. such as

  • Leaves curling 
  • Leaves yellowing 
  • Wilting problem
  • Losing bark 
  • Not blooming 
  • Canker disease

In this article, we will learn about the possible causes of Rising sun redbud plant problems and will find out the solutions. So let’s get started.

6 Common Problems of Rising Sun Redbud Tree with Solution

Yellow Leaves of Rising Sun Redbud

1. Leaves Curling

Leaf curl is a fairly common problem with red redbud plants. Initially, the leaves become slightly pale. Then the tip turns yellow and starts curling. At the last stage, the leaves are completely curled.

Causes

  • Overexposure to sun 
  • Underwatering
  • Lack of nutrients
  • pest infestation.

Treatment Guide

Although Rising Sun Redbud prefers sunlight, no more than four hours of full sun is required. If your plant is planted in an area that receives full sun you can use a shade cloth (our pick: Kesfitt Garden 70% Shade Cloth, Resistant Sun Shade).

The rising sun redbud tree prefers watering once a week. But before watering you need to check whether the soil is wet. Plants require more water during dry periods. If you have trouble watering on time, you can use a self-watering machine.

You can use any good quality nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Apply two to three times at the specified rate from late April to mid-July.

Apply a spray of fresh water every morning and afternoon to protect the plant from pests such as aphids and mealybugs. A good quality insecticide should be applied to affected plants. 

2. Leaves Yellowing

Another fatal problem with Rising Sun redbud foliage is yellowing. And it happens suddenly. First, the leaves fade and gradually start turning yellow. Sometimes from the tip of the leaf and sometimes from the midvein, the yellow color is obtained.

Causes

  • Watering issues
  • Poor quality soil 
  • Chlorosis
  • Temperature fluctuations
  • Excess sunlight.

Treatment Guide

Apply water once a week. If the soil at the base of the plant is dry, water should be applied to a depth of 2-2.5 inches. Good quality soil will not only ensure adequate nutrients for your plants but also retain the necessary water and supply it at the right time.  

You can use a ready-made redbud plant’s special soil. If that is not possible, you can also improve the quality of your soil by applying an organic compost fertilizer.

Iron and nitrogen-rich fertilizers prevent chlorosis. You can apply them two to three times a year. However, fertilizer should not be applied after flowering. 

3. Wilting Problem

You can easily recognize a wilted tree by looking at it. The plant will look pale. There will be no freshness. The plant will look weak and if left untreated for too long, it may die.

Causes

  • Low Humidity
  • Over-fertilizing
  • Fungal infestation

Treatment Guide

50-60% humidity is required for redbud plants. You can easily ensure the required humidity by using a humidifier.

Be careful in using fertilizers. Do not apply excess fertilizer in any way. Apply it according to the amount written on the packet. There is no need to fertilize during the blooming season.

A common soil-borne fungus can cause your redbud trees to verticillium wilt. Use the best quality antifungal spray to destroy them.

4. Losing Bark

Rising sun redbud trees have the characteristics of shedding or peeling bark. But sometimes it may occur for outside catalysts.

Causes

  • Animal Attacks
  • Heat Stress

Treatment Guide

You can use a 3-4 feet high metal sheet to warp your redbud tree from the root. That can protect your tree from rodents and squirrels. To protect from the big animal you can surround your tree with a strong fence. 

An optimum temperature should be maintained. Though the rising sun redbud is a cold-loving tree you have to maintain cool weather.

5. Not Blooming

The blooming season for redbud trees is mainly in March and April and lasts two to four weeks. However, there are some factors that can cause your plants to stop flowering.

Causes

  • Lack of Water
  • Insufficient Sunlight
  • Nutrition Deficiency
  • Pruning Mistakes

Treatment Guide

Basically, a rising sun redbud tree needs watering once a week, but during the blooming season, you have to water them two to three times a week.

As sunlight helps plants to bloom, you need to ensure adequate sunlight during the blooming seasons. Use a multi-purpose (10-10-10) liquid fertilizer between late May to the start of July.

Pruning should be done in the spring just after the blooming season. Again you can also prune them in late winter.

6. Canker Disease

A ‘canker’ is often associated with an open wound that has become infected by a fungus or bacteria. Cankers start as little, depressed patches in the bark, which gradually grow larger until they are depressed, elongated, and have cores that are black and broken. It frequently kills your redbud tree branches.

Causes

  • Fungus
  • Bacteria

Treatment Guide

There really is no reliable chemical treatment for cankers. Pruning dead branches and infected regions should be done if canker is found in a tree. 

Make sure to prune into healthy, viable wood by making cuts at least 2.5 to 4.5 inches below the canker. You can also use a good-quality fungicide.(Our pick: Monterey LG 6145 70% Neem Oil Ready-To-Spray Insecticide, Miticide, & Fungicide)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Redbuds lose their leaves?

Ans: Redbud trees shed their leaves every winter.  This is a normal occurrence.  At this time, special care should be taken for the tree.

What do yellow leaves on a redbud tree mean?

Ans: Yellowing redbud leaves usually means your plant is in stressful conditions.  There may be excess sunlight and a lack of nutrients.  Water may be applied more.  Also, the temperature variation can cause the yellowing of the fruit leaves.

What does an overwatered redbud look like?

Ans: There is too much water present if significant growth hinders before it has fully developed or turned a faint shade of yellow or green. Observe the leaves with great care. 

They may appear to be thick, active, and healthy, but if they are brittle in general and break easily, they may be experiencing the effects of too much water.

Conclusion

Although the Rising Sun Redbud is a beautifying plant, it suffers from several problems.  So you have to be careful after planting the tree. Immature trees are more affected by such problems.

However, with regular care and timely action, affected trees recover very quickly. To be a skilled gardener you need to have a good understanding of plant problems and know when treatments are needed. Only then will you be able to fix your tree very quickly.

Happy Gardening

James Rivenburg
James Rivenburg
James Rivenburg

James Rivenburg is the founder of plantandpest.com, a passionate gardener with valuable experience and knowledge gained through trial and error. The website has a large community of followers who trust his tips and techniques and have succeeded with his advice. He is always Committed to helping others create a beautiful and healthy garden.

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