I live in the Heartland, does anyone know why my redbud tree is starting to lose it's leaves already?

If you're anywhere near me, it's the DROUGHT! With the lack of rainfall, the trees are stressing like crazy and leaf drop is part of that. The late cold snap and freeze when many trees were leafing out sure didn't help, either.

I've noticed the locusts and some other trees are doing this as well. It's just too hot and dry for them. The tree is trying to conserve moisture by dropping some leaves.

Yes, the weather has been hard on trees this year. I have seen other trees also dropping leaves or having leaves turn brown and drop off this year. Some trees are very susceptible to too wet or too dry conditions. Sycamores and river birch trees get hurt by drought and have the same thing happen. Some trees like the red maple only grow leaves in the beginning of the year and later in the year the leaves turn ratty and look weathered. I would not worry too much as it should come back fine next year.

I live in the heartland too! and the same is happening to all the trees around us. It's the weather! We haven't had hardly any rain, and the weather has been hot and humid. The rain we have been getting lately is coming a little too late for the crops and trees to benefit from it. I think it is prob too late to do anything this year. Next year if the weather is like it has been this year, all I could tell you is to water it every, or every other evening to keep it moist, and of course fertilize.

Is your area one that got so much rain this June and July? Redbuds don't like wet feet. But the symptoms of too much water and drought can be the same. Hope it makes it.

http://kcgardens.kansascity.com/node/91

I'm of the same opinion as the other responders. Drought & heat.