The ‘Ruby Falls’ Redbud, a distinctive cultivar of the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), is prized for its compact size, deep purple foliage, and graceful, weeping habit. Its unique, cascading structure makes it a spectacular focal point in the landscape. Maintaining its intended appearance and health requires a targeted approach to pruning that respects its specific growth characteristics and grafted nature. Structural maintenance is necessary to ensure the tree retains its elegant, downward-flowing silhouette.
The Unique Growth Habit of the Ruby Falls Redbud
The striking appearance of the ‘Ruby Falls’ Redbud is defined by its weeping form, where branches naturally grow downward, creating a curtain-like canopy. This pendulous trait is stabilized by the tree’s grafted composition, where the ‘Ruby Falls’ scion (top portion) is joined to a hardy rootstock (base and root system) from a common Eastern Redbud. The rootstock is typically a vigorous, straight-growing variety without the weeping or purple leaf characteristics. The visible graft union marks the transition between these two genetically distinct components. This fundamental difference is the basis for the most specialized pruning requirement: the vigilant removal of rootstock growth.
When to Prune and Necessary Tools
The ideal window for significant structural pruning is late winter or very early spring, while the tree is still dormant, just before bud break. Pruning during this dormant period minimizes the risk of attracting insects and disease and allows for an unobstructed view of the tree’s branch structure. While redbuds are known to “bleed” sap when pruned in spring, this natural phenomenon is not generally harmful to the tree’s health. For minor corrective cuts, such as removing dead wood, pruning can be done at any time of year.
Necessary tools include sharp bypass pruners for smaller branches, long-handled loppers for medium branches, and a folding hand saw for larger limbs. Sanitize all cutting tools with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution or a diluted bleach solution before and after use. This prevents the transmission of fungal diseases like canker, to which redbuds can be susceptible.
Step-by-Step Pruning Techniques
Pruning the ‘Ruby Falls’ Redbud focuses on three distinct areas: maintaining the weep, promoting health, and managing the graft. The most important cut is the immediate and complete removal of any suckers, which are non-weeping shoots that sprout from the rootstock below the graft union or from the roots. These suckers are genetically the standard Eastern Redbud and will grow straight and green, competing with and eventually overwhelming the ornamental ‘Ruby Falls’ scion. They must be traced back to their point of origin and cut flush with the source using sharp pruners, being careful not to damage the main trunk.
Structural cuts are necessary to shape the tree and maintain the characteristic weeping form. The goal is to thin the dense canopy to improve light penetration and air circulation, which helps reduce the risk of disease. This involves removing any branches that are growing inward toward the center of the tree or that are rubbing against another branch, as this friction creates open wounds that invite pathogens. Cuts should be made just above a lateral branch or a healthy, outward-facing bud, or back to the branch collar. When shortening a weeping branch, always cut back to a side shoot that is already growing in the desired downward direction to reinforce the pendulous habit.
Maintenance cuts address the removal of the three D’s: dead, diseased, or damaged wood, a practice that can be performed year-round. Dead wood should be cut back to the point where it meets live wood, typically identified by a change in color or texture. If you are removing a diseased branch, make your cut several inches below the visible canker or infected area to ensure the entire pathogen is removed. For any branches that are broken or damaged, remove them cleanly back to a healthy side branch or the main trunk. Limit overall removal to no more than 25% of the canopy in a single season to avoid stressing the tree.
Caring for the Tree After Pruning
After pruning, the tree requires minimal intervention, but it benefits from observation and care to ensure proper healing. Avoid applying pruning sealants or wound dressings, as scientific consensus suggests these are unnecessary and can hinder the tree’s natural healing process by trapping moisture. The tree naturally seals off the wound tissue with a protective callus layer. Ensure the tree receives adequate water, especially if the pruning was extensive or if the weather is warm and dry.
Deep, infrequent watering encourages strong root growth and helps the tree manage the stress of tissue removal. Monitor the tree for signs of new stress or disease, such as wilting leaves or new cankers. Avoid removing too much material, particularly the top growth, as “topping” the tree can ruin its natural shape and stimulate weak, vertical growth that is counterproductive to the weeping form. A healthy ‘Ruby Falls’ Redbud will respond to proper pruning with vigorous new growth that maintains its distinctive, cascading silhouette.