Question
QUESTION: Dear Melissa,

I have a weeping redbud tree and have had it 1 year. It struggled a little when I first planted it, leaves turing yellow. We dug it up, sprayed roots and replanted with nutrient potting soil. It did very well, bloomed recently.

Now the leaves seem to be systematically drying up, no color change, just drying up crunchy. I've recently fertilized, we have a drip system on it. I am in pacific NW in Vancouver WA where it's not void of rain and fairly temperate.  I love my little tree and am having trouble finding help online.  Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Audrey

ANSWER: Dear Audrey, A drip irrigation system will not be enough to establish a new tree.  The drip irrigation should be used mainly for plants that need more frequent and shallower waterings.  When watering your redbud, I would water with a hose at about half strength for several minutes.  You don't have to water until the ground is soggy, but water almost to that point.  Then don't water again for several days until the soil is much drier.  Redbuds are very drought tolerant, but any new plantings need extra water for the first year and maybe two years.  Also, when planting, make sure that you don't plant the tree deeper in the soil than it was in the pot when you purchased it.  This will also cause trees to have problems and die.  One other tip is that it is best to mix a landscape mix half and half with your native soil for best results to get the tree established.  It works much better than planting them in straight potting soil, because the potting soil area around the tree stays wetter than the surrounding soil and causes root rot.  I hope this information helps.  Just water the tree a lot deeper when you water and it will probably be fine.  Write back if you need more assistance. Good luck, Melissa

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Melissa,

I don't think I mixed the soil when we replanted, I may have a little but not completely. Do you think I should dig it back up and do that or just keep watering it and see how it goes?  I'm also pretty sure we didn't put it too far down, but since it's been a whole year I really can't remember.

Thanks so much for your advice!
Audrey

Answer
Dear Audrey, Since it has been in the ground a whole year, I suggest that you let the poor thing stay put where it is.  This information may help you with further planting.  I hate for people to spend good money on expensive plants and not have the very best advice available to them to give the plants the best possible start.  I think that if you water this tree deeply and less often you will have great improvement.  Please feel free to ask me any planting advice or anything else you need to know about gardening.  I hope this information helps and you feel that your watering was causing the problems because that is actually an easy problem to fix.  Melissa