I don't see anything wrong.

Redbuds are capable of tremendous growth - I've seen a seedling turn in to a 10-foot tall blooming tree within 4 years! I wouldn't worry about it; be glad it's growing.

Thanks.
I only wonder because I have many other 'regular' redbuds on my property, both native and store bought, and none of them grow at a rate even remotely like this one.
I'll try not to worry :)

Redbuds can do 2+' a year easy when they are happy and this seems to be doing just that. It looks like yours has grown around 4' which is very good growth for 2 years, but not too far above the norm as least to me. Just very happy. You can also look at how much caliper that tree has gained as another indicator of how happy it is.

Enjoy!

John

what.. my teenager is growing too fast.. and its a problem????

there is nothing wrong with creative pruning for shape and form ...

its obviously well established.. so canopy reduction involved in pruning for shaping is fine with me ...

look into ... carp.. blanked .. predestination.. subordination .. pruning.. help guys ??? ... lol . ..

i shall presume you can find and ID the graft point.. and wont prune below such ...

hard to go much further with a leafed out tree .. and viewing such on the WWW

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: i figured it out

Thanks for that piece of terminology Ken.
I have a crabapple that I need to look at closely this winter as it has a double leader situation going on that may need to be addressed.

"Subordination pruning" is the one you want to investigate. The big word scares some folks off, but it's a simple enough concept: If you have co-dominant leaders, or even just a leader that you would like to behave better, shorten it up, don't remove it completely. By taking away its apical growing point, it will slow down, allowing the one you want to be dominant.....to be dominant. Always cut back to a side branch or branchlet, preferably one that is oriented such that it is growing out and away from center line of tree.

;^)

+oM

I think the fallen needles from the old hemlock really enriched the soil creating a great acidic environment for plants like the hydrangea. Perhaps that could be part of the reason why things do so well there?

That makes sense jqpublic.
Although I like my theory about a troll being buried there, too. :)

I have areas on my (newish) lot where the original "grade" remained and there was little/no backfill or compacting done. The clay soil there is deep and the trees in those small spots outgrow others by 1-2 feet per year.

In one case, a bald cypress that is two years younger than a nearby dawn redwood outgrows it significantly (11' vs 6') and the bald cypress was also transplanted after it's first season.

Additionally, even if your home is on sewer, at some point in the history of the property, that could have been a septic drain field, or compost heap or yard refuse burning/dumping spot.

I do think the years of material from the old tree are the likely cause too though. I just like soil mystery :-)