What killed my redbud tree after 3 years?
If YOU planted it 3 years ago I would say it likely died from desiccation. The first two years after a tree is installed are critical to its survival. They need to be deeply watered once a week the first year and if they are not getting one inch of rainfall a week the second year, water needs to be administered. If not, what ends up happening between the summer heat and the extreme cold, is the plant shuts down – the roots begin to die and it can survive in a stunted and chlorotic state for several years. By the third year desiccation has reached such a high level that the enzymes that control growth become deactivated and the tree dies. Unfortunately this scenario is more common than not. The tree looks great for a year or two and then dies because it has not been taken care of properly after being planted. ………………………………..
