I think I've got cankers on my redbud. Lost one branch, have a couple more spots that go half to most of the way around a branch. This tree is grown from seeds of my mother's 30 year old nursery bought tree. It's about 7 feet tall, divided into three trunks. Full sun , it's got some maples on its north and east.
Is it doomed? I have another, larger one that also has spots, but much smaller percentage of the branches affected.
another branch, same tree. this wound goes almost all around the branch.
maybe my question got overlooked in a flurry of new stuff.....or maybe it's too amateur for this crowd.... or maybe everybody else hates redbuds....
sallyg:
Couldn't you tell it's Viburnum season? My newest cat is named Cercis, though, so I guess I owe you a response.
You ought to have the problem definitively ID'd via your cooperative extension plant pathology diagnostic services. That said: if you truly believe it to be a canker, I'd cut the offended stem off at the ground and dispose of it. Redbuds are nothing if they can't vigorously throw new stems from the ground (or whatever level at which you prune). You'll soon have a new trunk(s) to replace any that you remove.
Water during droughts this coming year, and give a general 10-10-10 granular fertilizer in the root zone to aid in new growth, and you should be fine.
Sally,
I missed your post but I have to say that I avoid disease problem questions because I'm not very knowledgeable in the area. Sometimes the symptoms are so vague that I just hope someone else answers it. Not very mature or responsible. Anyway, thanks to several tabs open in IE, I switched pages and in less than a minute I had this link: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:0sCVAk64URoJ:hort.ufl.edu/trees/CERCANA.pdf+cercis+canker&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 Summary: Redbuds get canker, it can kill branches, you prune them out when it is dry, there is no chemical control. That was way easier than I thought it was going to be and I learned something! Now the real experts can finish off the diagnosis and treatment.
Regards,
Ernie
Edit- Dang, Vv beat me to the punch. I need to quit goofing off while typing these. Anybody know if there are selections for canker resistance?
This message was edited Nov 18, 2006 5:14 PM
Yes, I have seen, it's a veritable Viburnumapalooza
Thanks for assuring me my redbud deserves a bit of attention. It's no Katsura but I like it for the price.
The canker seems to be a very common problem, what I've googled. I will go on the trim out /fertilize plan and give it a chance. I just didn't know if somebody would write back and say Eh not worth fooling with, will turn into a mess of odd prunings.
Thanks again!
you all see I saw the one about italicizing, don't I feel all smart and stuff
LHDP:
Not aware of any canker resistance out there amongst Cercis canadensis; there might be some with other Cercis species. Hidden Hollow Nursery might just know about that.
And if you were out gainfully working/photographing (or on very long cellular calls with equally lackadaisical louts), you wouldn't have to type those expletives.
sallyg sayeth:
you all see I saw the one about italicizing, don't I feel all smart and stuff
I had a funny feeling I should have said Ginkgo instead of Katsura. So I'm WAY not a real expert.
How quickly do redbuds regrow if they are cut to the ground? I have one that I bought from Wal-Mart that has terrible form, but it was on sale for five bucks so I grabbed it. It may be best to cut it down and start it over.
Escambia,
They rejuvenate quickly from a thorough pruning...as long as their root systems are established. If that isn't the case, I wouldn't want to hazard a guess.
Scott
