The redbud tree is one of the first trees to bloom in spring and it is truly spectacular! This tree is not as famous as it is known. You might miss most of the flowering trees on a walk in the park or on your way home from get off work, but redbuds are known for their bright pink and purple blooms that nearly cover otherwise bare trees in early spring. Buy large redbud trees from our online nursery and have them conveniently shipped to your home.
You might be surprised how easy this tree is to grow in your own garden. In fact, once established, you don’t really need to do anything else for the tree to survive. Help your redbud tree thrive by following our redbud tree care tips.
Planting Redbud Tree
1. Dig a hole about twice the width and depth of the root ball.
2. Put the tree scale into the hole. You want your tree to be slightly above the existing ground line. Planting too deep can cause your tree to struggle and even die.
3. Fill the hole with water. Yes, even before you fill in the soil around the roots. A new tree is like a lot of water. This will help them root properly and quickly.
4. Backfill and compact the soil to remove air pockets. Do not trample the ground, as this will compact the soil, making it difficult for the tree to grow.
5. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer. This fertilizer is safe for new plantings and will give your tree a head start.
6. Cover the redbud tree with 1 to 2 inches of mulch extending at least a few inches into the root zone. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture and keeps weeds from competing. Do not pile mulch on tree trunks. This can lead to water retention and pest and disease damage to your tree.
7. Water again until the soil is saturated. While the tree is growing, water deeply at least twice a week for the first month and at least once a week for the second and third months. It’s better for your tree and its roots if you water it a little less often than daily. We recommend using the hose without attachments and letting it run until it starts collecting water.
Redbud Tree Care
Place
Siting among redbuds is very easy because they are versatile and adaptable. They like full sun to part shade, and they adapt well to any soil as long as there is no standing water.
Water
Once established, redbud trees are very drought tolerant. During longer periods of drought and heat, the tree benefits from intensive weekly watering.
Fertilizer
For best performance, fertilize your redbud tree in early spring. Choose a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Pruning
Bauhinia generally does not require pruning. However, if necessary, prune them right after flowering ends to remove any dead, dying, overcrowded, or crossing branches. Winter pruning may result in loss of blooms.
How to Grow a Redbud Tree?
Dig a hole about two to three times the width of the container.
Don’t put anything like peat moss or potting soil in the hole. This old-fashioned planting method is no longer recommended because research shows it causes drainage problems and causes roots to stay in the hole instead of spreading into the surrounding soil. Ultimately, your plant needs to grow in its natural soil in order to be beautiful and strong.
Next, carefully decant the tree out of the container, or if it is a tree rolled up and wrapped in burlap, remove any burlap, twine, or wire (burlap does not biodegrade quickly, so you need to be removed). Roughen the surface of the root ball by hand, or use loppers to cut away any roots surrounding it. This part is necessary, says Bulley, because it stimulates root growth.