Mexican Redbud

Don’t over prune your young redbuds to force them into a treelike shape; losing all their lower branches in a single day may result in a severely weakened tree. In general, focus on minimizing dead, damaged, or rubbing branches. Cuts should only be made at a bud or branch; as with any tree, remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. To maintain a healthy specimen leave the upper 2/3 of the tree’s height uncut, and never remove more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period — for example, on a 12-foot tree, stick to the lowest 4 feet. Mulch with about 2 of wood chips or pine bark wherever possible. (In general, a tree’s mulched area should be six feet at minimum).