Hello,

I’m sorry to hear about your redbud. Redbuds (Cercis canadensis), prefer well-drained moist soil which can be alkaline or acidic, in full sun or partial shade. It can be kept healthy with regular watering and fertilizing. They should be planted so that the flair of the root is at soil level—not too deep or high.

Trees need at least 1 inch of water a week when conditions are dry. To ensure that the soil is moist, stick your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle. Too little water can cause stress but too much water can lead to root rot. If it is cool and moist, the plant has enough water. You can measure how much water it is getting by placing a tuna can in the soil under it when it is being watered and measure the amount it receives. Mulch should be spread on top of the soil to a depth of 3 inches, but not against the trunk as it can rot the bark.

It is possible that your tree is suffering from transplant shock. To establish whether it is still viable, you can give it the scratch test: lightly scratch a small spot on the bark, if there is green wet wood below, this is living tissue and the tree is alive. In that case, you can continue watering it up until a fall frost and hope that next year it will recover.

The white patches on the bark may be lichen and do not necessarily harm the tree. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_are_lichens_and_what_are_they_doing_on_my_tree

You can also discuss the problem with the nursery where you purchased it. Most reputable nurseries guarantee their product for a year.

A sample to the MSU Extension’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab may help diagnose the problem: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/

Finally, you could consult a certified arborist to assess the tree. To find an arborist in your area, go to www.treesaregood.org the website of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.