Redbud tree growing out of stump. Can it turn into a normal tree?

Question

We had a 3 year old redbud split during high winds this past spring. I had to cut it off about 2.5 feet from the ground to remove the split limbs. This left nothing but a 3 inch wide stalk sticking out of the ground. Nearly the day after it broke, sprouts formed along the top of the stump. After a few weeks they became small limbs. Within a month, we had a what looked like a redbud bush. I removed all but a few limbs from the stump and now it has started to form a tree shape again with the limbs I left becoming thick and healthy looking. However, I'm concerned that since the new body of the tree is growing out of the side of the top of the stump, the tree will never look right or be strong. If it could grow to encompass the stump and grow over the break, I would be fine with it, but I don't want it to look like a tree growing out of the side of a stump.

Is it best to still just remove the tree and plant a new one or let this one try to survive? It was established and beautiful. It was devastating to lose it. But I want a nice tree there, not a deformed tree coming out of a stump.

Answer 1

down the road from us, there was a redbud that was mowed over when it was young... it developed into a lovely shrub... a HUGE lovely shrub...as tall as the house next to it!.... and  when it bloomed, it was a show-off!.... the family left all the sprouts from the stub of the trunk grow on up, pruned them in stages to make the bush full and strong...it even survived our ice storms....but where we tried to let a wild cherry tree grow as you are describing, it was a failure, as the connection to the trunk couldn't support the new tree... I'm guessing that all the sprouts support each other, while just the one is too weak at the connection to stand alone.....

I'd cut it off a little above ground level and let it go from there.... if you don't like it, you can remove it another time....  

Answer 2

In the spring I'm pretty sure you can cut the stump off at the ground and it will make new shoots once again. Then you can leave them all and keep it trimmed as a bush or leave a single branch or a select few to grow big. I have seen this done before but my only experience at starting over like that is with rose bushes which I have had great luck doing.

Answer 3

Generally speaking I would remove the tree and replace it. Usually sprouts from the base are healthy and vigorous, but seldom sturdy or attractive. Prone to breakage, and sometimes insects, particularly borers.