It won't recover but it could live a long time like that. What does it look like? Do you like it?

Here's what it looks like now. The branching isn't great, but I do like the pink blooms:

Redbud aren’t known for being long lived or rot resistant...leave it along until it fails and then either replace it or train one of the inevitable sprouts into your new tree.

It could live a long time. I know of one old Redbud that is in much worse condition than yours that blooms beautiful every spring.

I think the question is your tolerance to the look of the gnarled old tree.

Remember the redbud is a slow growing tree, so if you cut it down and replant it will be years before you get blosoms.

One thing you may consider. While the redbud is still producing flowers, I would plant new trees and shrubs that will be old enough to produce a lot of color when the redbud dies or when the wind takes it out.

Yes, don't wait to plant replacements. Given that there is nothing else in the front garden I'd keep it.

yes its dying.. its going to fail ... lets say anytime in the next decade ... tree time ...

i would plant one or two trees to replace it ... since.. it will take them the same decade to mature ...

i dont see where you are.. the warmer the location... to faster stuff grows.. as a function of the length of growing season ...

first pic.. it looks a bit telephone poled ... i dont see the root flare in the grass ... just an observation... probably nothing to do with the current situation ... maybe just a hint about future planting ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=root+flare&iax=images&ia=images

what i wonder about ... in removing basically half the tree... is if you significantly changed the wind dynamics as a result ... so that next good wind storm.. when fully leafed out ... it might just flop over ... so dont tie toto to it if the storm is coming ..

the upside.. if it falls over.. it doesnt appear that it might hit the house .. plus.. if it falls over.. it will be easier to cut the rest up ... and finally .... ma nature will make the decision for you ...

ken

Redbuds are tough. And you can always plant more things nearby without removing it. Some roadsides around here are achingly beautiful from them right now. Mine from last spring:

Well, we're keeping this redbud, so I guess we'll see if it falls over in the next windstorm or outlasts us at this house. We lopped off a pretty big limb that was low and jutting into a parking area we'll be pouring. Plus some branches that were tangled over each other and others that were dead. So it's got a nice haircut now, unlike most of us.

Our town is full of them blooming right now as well, and the city is giving out another 100 this week as part of Earth Day. I've got to decide where to plant that one.

BTW, this tree is in our side yard. That's our driveway in the foreground, and the door is to our mudroom entry. SIdewalk to the left leads to the front door, which faces the road.

One more question, re: the hole in the trunk. I'm worried about it collecting water. While that might be nice to have a virtual birdbath, will that hasten the rot? Do we need to fill it in or cover it over with something?

Yes, water collecting there will hasten rot. But don't try to fill it in -- that never works. IMHO best just to let it be, perhaps soak out the water w/cloth or paper towels at times. Drier is always better concerning rot.

I just don't think sealing it will make a functional difference unless you are into experimenting. Two of my redbuds have perished in the past year. I swear I save 2 volunteers everytime one dies.