Need help with Pruning/Straightening a Redbud
Hi All,
I'm new here and a complete newb with trees. We purchased a redbud 3 years ago. It probably wasn't the specimen I should have gotten, but I didn't know any better. It's about 8-10 ft tall (I'm not sure where exactly you measure to for height) and is under a partial canopy of large maple trees.
Last year the redbud had a very low leaning branch. It lay on the ground. Since this is a residential backyard, I would like to be able to at least SEE under it. So come winter, I pruned it off completely.
This summer, the tree is doing the same. It seems all of the lower branches are very tip-heavy now that the leaves are fully in and the branches are bending tremendously with the weight. What should I do? I don't feel that the rest of the tree is large enough to be used to tie these branches up.
I've also come to realize that the leader has bent off to one side as a branch as well. The leader is about 7 feet off the ground. Most of the tree, in fact, exists on the one side (in part because the sun is that way and in part because I stuck it in the ground that way?) And honestly, looking at it from that angle (pic below), the whole thing is leaning at the top. gah.
If all goes correctly, I'm including photos. What in the world can I do to make this tree aim upwards? It is roped to a stake at the 4-5" level. No building behind to strap it to, just a fence back there.
Comments (11)
12 years ago- 12 years ago
Hey Ken,
Thanks for the response! I haven't pruned this tree save that one branch last year and some dead stuff, because I thought it ought to become established better before doing anything. If you can see all the old pruned branches, that wasn't me. You ask if I know how to prune... not by any of your standards, no. I've never been trained by anyone who knows a thing or two about trees - and that's why I'm here!
The lowest branch is about 2.5-3' from the ground. The next (same side) somewhere around 4'. Obviously, they're too low, but there's a whole lot of foliage coming from those two branches and I'm hesitant to take them off. From what I understand I should have done it after bloom, but I really had no idea they would become that heavy. Silly me, yes. Please forgive my ineptitude.
The stake was put in because the tree was side heavy and leaning even further under its own weight last year. I wanted to remove the lower branches, but hubby wouldn't let me. The stake is still supporting this weight (I tried earlier), obviously because the tree hasn't grown too much on the other side and the heavy side has just gotten heavier... I need to alleviate that weight, I assume.So, yes, please forgive this newb. I want to learn and understand, I really do.. it's just something I never make time for and, well, learning off the web is dubious at best. I'm attaching a few pictures below. Sorry I only attached the one last time. It was just because it only lets you do one and I had kids to tend to. :/
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Full right side view. Oh, and I understand that these trees will do their own thing. My aim is for it to, umm, stand on its own and perhaps not drag on the ground. Obviously, I would like a healthy tree, as well. I'm going to get a quote from our local tree service, but the last quote I got (for a larger tree) was quite a bit of cash. Not something I have much of right now!
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jbraun_gw