Eastern Red Bud

[DinaJean]

My sister planted an Eastern Redbud lat year in memory of Mom. Done great, bloomed this spring, sprouted new leaves, then they had a TON of rain, and the field was flooded for a couple of weeks. They have since graded the area so it wont flood again. But all the leaves turned brown.

I took all the dead leaves off and checked the bark, it is green underneath all the way to the tips, so it is still alive. What can we do for it to insure it’s health in the future, and will the leaves grow back???

Thanks for any help ASAP, I will be leaving here tomorrow evening.

[Newt]

Hi DinaJean,

I'm so sorry to hear about this.**:(* Being a native tree will be helpful for the tree's survival.* With flooding it's important that no one walks on the soil in the rootzone and compresses the the soil, especially when it's wet.* That removes the oxygen and makes mud.* Tree roots need oxygen.* If the soil wasn't compressed, especially when wet, the tree has a chance for survival.* It's best not to remove the leaves though.* The tree will shed them when it's ready.* Leaves are expendable to a tree and they will often shed them in times of stress, but the leaves also help to make food for the tree.

The best you can do is probably what has already been done - regrade the soil so it doesn't flood again and mulch properly.* It will take time to know if the tree survives.* It may not leaf out again this year, but not to worry.* Do watch carefully to see if the entire crown of the tree leafs out next year.* Here's an interesting site I found about tree roots and the soil.
http://www.mytreelessons.com/Pages/Soil%20Sea.htm

Have a safe trip.* :)
Newt

[DinaJean]

Should she transplant the tree to higher ground where there is NO chance of standing water in the spring? If so, at this point, when would be safe to move this particular tree?

I have always thought, maybe it is an old wives tale, that when a leaf or a flower bud starts to die on a plant, that it should be removed because it is putting all the energy in to keeping that portion alive.* So, this is wrong?* I hope I didnt make a HUGE mistake by removing those dead leaves.* :(

[Newt]

Transplanting to higher ground would definitely be best, but redbuds don't always transplant well.* They tend to have a taproot.* Fall after leaf drop or in spring before bud break would be best.* I think I gave you sites on how to transplant trees.

With plants it's often best to remove yellowing leaves as the leaf won't turn green again if it's time to shed the leaf.* Most arborists will tell you not to as the tree will shed them when it's ready.* You could leave a place for insect pests to invade when you remove the leaves.

Newt