Plant Care 101: Eastern Redbud Tree

Scouting the Area

The first thing on the list? Selecting the perfect area for the Eastern Redbud. Luckily, it's easy but it is important, so knowing its needs is important.

For starters, the Eastern likes full to partial sun, which means about 4 to 8 hours of sunlight per day and some protection from harsh afternoon exposure. And itperforms best in growing zones 4 through 9, with cold hardiness down to -20 degrees.Generally, the Eastern Redbud does well in just about any climate, so long as it has a bit of sun and well-drained soil.

And when you're finally ready to plant, it's effortless. Simply dig ahole that's about twice the width of your tree's root ball, place yourEastern RedbudTree, and backfill the soil. Finally, water the surrounding soil to settle your tree's roots.

Spring and fall are the perfect seasons to plant, by the way. Just ensure you've waited until after the final frost in spring, or ensure you plant before the first frost in fall.

Ongoing Care

But thebest news? Plantingis the hardest part - seriously.When it comes to preparing your Eastern Redbud Tree for a long life, the first part is simple.

The next step is setting a watering schedule, but don't be daunted: This all-important component is effortless, too.For your Eastern Redbud, we recommend watering about once weekly or checking your soil.

To check your soil, stick your finger in, about 2 or 3 inches down. If the soil is dry here, water until the surrounding soil is moist but not oversaturated. Climate does play a role, so you may have to water yourEastern Redbuda week during hot summers or just once everytwo or threeweeks duringchillier months.

And watering later in the evening, after the heat of the day has subsided, is ideal.

Pruning

To shape future growth, pruningyour Eastern Redbud while it's young is a must.

Prune the tree in early summer, after theEastern has finishedblooming. Begin the pruning process by removing any larger lower branches and branches that cross over each other or rub together.And when you cut the branches close to the trunk, avoid leaving any stubs.