| It's difficult to diagnose a plant problem without really seeing it, but here are a few of my experiences; brown leaf margins can indicate sun scorch, fertilizer burn, inconsistent soil moisture or a fungal disease. Redbud will generally grow in full sunshine without problem so this may not be the cause. Too much fertilizer can burn tender new growth (if you haven't fertilized, we can eliminate this cause). Inconsistent soil moisture can be brought upon by heavy rainfall, or failure to deeply water your redbud once each week. Finally, fungal diseases can start showing up as crispy leaf tips, but will quickly involve the entire leaf, spreading to the entire tree. I'd bet it's salt burn or poorly draining soil with an over-abundance of water during the spring months. While I can't positively say what the cause is, now that you have an idea of what it might be, you can take corrective measures - don't fertilize; be sure to water deeply once each week; watch for fungal spots on the remainder of the leaves. Hope this information is helpful! |
