Q. Last Spring(2017) the leaves looked like they
were being eaten. Upon searching thoroughly, I couldn’t see any
creatures. Tree seemed to be losing some leaves early…some were speckled as
shown in attached picture. I thought the tree would die..Spring
2018…tree in full bloom (with exception of a few branches)…bees were loving
it. Now, it’s back to chewed leaves. What can be done to
establish a healthy tree again. Today, it was fed and watered with attached…what
can be done to bring it back to good health.
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| Leafcutter bee circles in plant leaves. They are good guys. |
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| This is Eastern Redbud. They cannot handle desert soils very well and certainly not rock mulch. Try to find Western Redbud. But use woodchip mulch and apply compost to the soil . Work it into the soil where the roots are. |
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| Its okay but you need compost, soil amendment added to the soil to make it alive again. |
Q. The first picture is leafcutter bee. I advocate to do
nothing. They are vegetable pollinators primarily since they come out late.
As far as the plant health, this is EASTERN redbud. It doesn’t care
for our desert soils much. If you put it in soil covered in surface rock mulch
get rid of it and use woodchip mulch. Before you apply it, put about ½ bag of
good compost like Viragrow’s Soil Pro and water it in.
for our desert soils much. If you put it in soil covered in surface rock mulch
get rid of it and use woodchip mulch. Before you apply it, put about ½ bag of
good compost like Viragrow’s Soil Pro and water it in.
Next time you plant, use
half and half soil from the hole and compost and then plant it as you water it
in the soil making a slurry. Then cover the rootball area with woodchips and not
rock. Eastern plants like Eastern soils. Next time try a Western Redbud. Likes
our soils much better.
half and half soil from the hole and compost and then plant it as you water it
in the soil making a slurry. Then cover the rootball area with woodchips and not
rock. Eastern plants like Eastern soils. Next time try a Western Redbud. Likes
our soils much better.
Check and make sure it is getting enough
water each time its watered. Not frequency, how often it is applied, but amount
of water.
water each time its watered. Not frequency, how often it is applied, but amount
of water.
I planted an Eastern redbud tree a couple years ago and it is lush and green. I live in Henderson and so far no problems.
I have concerns using this tree in alkaline, dry landscapes particularly when planted using rock mulch after year 4 or 5. This is when the soil amendments used at the time of planting start running out and we start to see yellowing, scorched leaves, and poor health. Western redbud us much harder to find but I believe a better choice for dry, desert landscapes.