I think my redbud is dying.?

Question

I have a redbud tree that is very important too me. My parents gave it to me when I was a tiny little girl, the first time I saw a tree cut down (I cried, and Mama said this tree would be mine). I named her (Heartleaves) and I used to tie a ribbon around a branch every spring. Now, maybe fifteen years later, I think she may be dying. Her trunk is covered with some funky fungus, and ants are crawling all over. What can I do? My tree has survived Texas summers, hard storms, and a crazy neighbour with a chainsaw. Heartleaves is very important to me - please help.

Answer 1

to wet get a fungicide spray

Answer 2

Hi,

Ok...the tree sounds like it needs help....I'm here...

First, when is the last time your fertilized it...I mean with Miracle Gro?  

It should be fed every month during the growing season.  

The "stuff" that is growing on the trunk is probably Lichen..which is a combination of two plant materials  

fungus and algae.

The Lichen is growing because the tree is producing less leaves than normal.  

The main "trick" is to get the tree in better health with fertilizer and water and reduce the lichen that is growing on the tree's trunk.

Realize... the lichen is NOT the problem....just a sign of the problem.

Good Luck and for more information on plants, gardens, and nature visit my website at www.dagardenguy.com

Regards,

Walt

www.dagardenguy.com

Answer 3

Dieback/Canker

Dieback/Canker is the most destructive disease that attacks Redbud trees. It is first seen as a tree’s leaves wilt and turn brown. Often cankers can be seen on branches and twigs. The cankers can either be seen as visible cankers on the surface of the branches or as dark sunken areas with black centers.

The canker or dieback is caused by a fungus (Botryosphaeria ribis) which attacks not only the redbud but more than fifty other types of trees and shrubs. The disease is spread throughout the tree, or from tree to tree, by splashing rain and winds that move the fungus from diseased areas to healthy parts of the tree. The fungus then enters the tree through wounds or dying branches. The fungus gradually spreads out within the tree’s vascular system slowly blocking the tree’s vascular system and inhibiting its ability to transport nutrients and water. The result is a gradual dieback of branches as the flow of nutrients and water is cut off.

There is no effective chemical control for the canker. If canker is identified in a tree, prune out and destroy dead branches and infested areas. Be sure to make pruning cuts at least 3 or 4 inches below the canker, so that the cut is into healthy viable wood. After every pruning cut, be sure to properly sanitize the pruning tools so that the fungus is not transported on the tools and infects healthy parts of the tree.

An effective pruning and sanitization program can be helped with a fungicide spray program. Spray both the healthy and diseased sections of a tree with Liquid Copper during and shortly after periods of excessive rain. Using a fungicide such as Liquid Copper will not eliminate the disease but it can help slow the spread of the fungal disease to healthy trees.

It may also have reached it's lifespan..common is 20 years..give or take a few depending on it's enviroment..You could propogate new ones from cuttings and at least have the same tree genetically..just as humans..we reproduce for we have lifespans too..but we have other generations..

Potential Problems - Redbud grows rapidly and often lives about twenty years before it begins to decline or die, especially in urban situations where poorly drained, heavy clay soils predominate.

Trunk canker is a serious disease of Redbud, and is evident as sunken depressions in the bark of large branches or trunks, which often begin to heal before the tree eventually dies. Verticillium wilt and root rot are two additional, serious pathogens that affect the roots often due to wet soils but become evident as entire branches rapidly die. Some pests such as scales may also cause problems, but the tree diseases sited above wreak havoc on Redbud and limit its lifespan.