Redbud leaves - HELP!

astro2015

11 years ago

The leaves of my two 15' tall redbuds start out looking fine, but develop small holes that eventually get brown on the edges. Most of the leaves usually stay green, but look terrible after a while.

I first noticed this last summer. At that time, I was told by the local garden guy on the radio that it was probably a fungus due to a lot of rain we had received last spring, and that it wouldn't go away until this year's leaves came out.

It blossomed fine this year, so before it came back again, I was told that it was caused by direct sun exposure through the entire hot day. However, it came back already in the early spring (with very little hot western sun or temps). I asked and was told it was now because of lack of iron. I've also been told it was from insect damage.

So now I'm hoping someone can tell me what this is:

1) hot sun damage

2) insect damage

3) fungus

4) lack of iron

5) ?

Please help!

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

NEVER use an insecticide.. UNTIL you find the bug.. ID it ... and then react with knowledge ...

besides ... if ONLY the large leaf is affected... but not the newer ones .. then the bug is probably long gone ...

frankly .. i have spent more time here typing about this issue [gladly, mind you] ... than i would have ever spent ..... if i saw this extremely minor leaf damage ... on a tree in my yard ... mother nature is not martha stewart ... perfection is not always possible ... and sometimes its the same plant.. repeatedly ...

ken

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Comments (12)

tlbean2004
11 years ago
Probably insect damage and fungus. The trees around my house (not redbud) will emerge pretty but later on they will have holes and spots all over them.

Do you see any eggs layed on the underside of the leaves?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
be nice to know where you are ... is the tree zone appropriate ...

its a full sun plant.. that should not be an issue ...

was it a large transplant.. and how many years ago ...

looks like a rather fine lawn ... was it sprayed just at leaf emergence???

as to iron .. that issue can only be addressed AFTER a quality soil test ... no guessing ...

be leery of solutions offered by peeps.. who have the solution to sell you.. right down the next aisle ... and i hope we arent talking about bigboxstore professionals ...

if a good nursery helps you ... and you learn from them.. without the sales pitch.. then buy more plants from them ... we cant have them all go out of biz ... just dont make boat payments to them.. for the heck of it ...

ken
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astro2015
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I'm south of Houston, which I guess puts me in zone 9?

The tree was planted in November 2013. It was what I consider a somewhat large transplant. It bloomed out real nice this spring, but the new leaves quickly got these holes. I haven't treated it with anything.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
i dont know if its a z9 tree .. maybe someone else can help in that regard ...

but i would remove one of the branches.. that seem to be growing around each other ...

ken
User
11 years ago
Looks like a bug problem. Take it to your county extension agent.

Redbuds are plentiful in z9. A friend gave me 17 seedlings she pulled from

Under her BR tree they all grew and bloomed 7 yrs later. Planted them on

Our "farm" in lower jasper county. Rambling.
astro2015
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your responses! I've never seen any insects on the trees, but I suppose I could be just missing them.

Any special insecticide to use that won't hurt the eastern redbud or surrounding plants?
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
11 years ago
Do you use weed and feed on the lawn around the tree? If so, it can effect the tree negatively (the herbicide in the 'weed' part).
astro2015
Original Author
11 years ago
I don't use weed and feed. To the earlier comment, I can't find any bugs to identify. Also, it's not just the mature leaves... the new ones are also affected.
User
11 years ago
Still believe it's bugs. Maybe they feed at night. Birds may

Take care of them.
User
11 years ago
My redbud had the same problem a few weeks ago. It's ok now .

Could be cold nights or bugs eating. How is your tree now?
User
6 years ago
Are they perfectly round cut outs? Maybe they are leaf cutter bees which are excellent pollinators and won't hurt your tree. Example from Google. My newly planted weeping redbud started to develop holes exactly like these. I do not see any eggs or caterpillars under the leaves so I don't think these are red-humped caterpillars (who also don't cut this perfectly round holes).