Spotlight: Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud

Planting in clay soil taught me that digging wide holes are better than deep ones—and sometimes the best thing you can do is plant higher.

The tree I didn’t know I needed

I walked into a nursery.

Saw a Golden Falls Weeping Redbud.

And thought… I want it.

I love weeping plants.

The branches twist and wind,
— finding their own way to exist (kinda like me).

But then my husband picked out this Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud.

We bought it — and wow.

It feels like a jewel tucked into our garden
— unexpected, eye-catching, AND glorious.

It’s enchanting.
It’s whimsical.
It feels made for my garden — and maybe yours too. 🌸

Ruby Falls stopped me in my tracks

Ruby Falls is an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)—
a cross between the small, weeping ‘Covey’ redbud
and the purple ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud.

Our Ruby Falls has a serpentine trunk and graceful, arching branches.

Even without leaves, it’s stunning in fall and winter.

Then, in late winter or early spring, it blooms.

Tiny, pea-like flowers cover the bare wood
— in soft shades of lavender, pink, or even white. 💜

After that, the heart-shaped leaves appear — rich and romantic.

The part where I messed up 😬

I made a mistake.
And planted our new tree too deep.

Not long after, its leaves looked off.

The tree was not thriving—
it was starting to struggle.

The signs something was wrong

I checked the soil.

Sticky.
Heavy.
Wet for far too long.

That’s when it clicked:
we’d have to dig it up—just not right away.

The fix that actually saved the tree

Once I thought the tree might be sick, I treated it like it was.

My husband and I:

🔫 Sprayed fungicide to stop disease from spreading

🍂 Cleared fallen leaves and mulch

🌳 Replanted it on higher ground — the real fix

Why clearing debris matters

When a plant looks sicks…

I remove any fallen leaves, plant material, or mulch.

Because sickness can hang around, overwinter, and strike again the next year.

Why moving it was such a pain

Moving our little tree wasn’t easy.

We’d had tons of rain the season before.

Rainy seasons + clay soil = a real workout.

Also, working wet soil can make things worse, not better.

So, I waited until things dried up and the tree was dormant.

My goal was simple:

✅ Don’t work in wet soil and make it more compact.

✅ Move the tree while it’s sleeping.

I think it was early winter when we finally moved it. That weekend we were exhausted from working on a French Drain. But we powered through.

We dug a circle around where I thought the roots were.

When digging a hole, I use a tarp, container, wagon, or wheelbarrow to hold native soil. It makes cleanup and replanting easier. When I forget, I instantly regret it. Ugh.

Back to the move…

I tried to help. I was not helpful

The roots were locked into dense, heavy clay soil.

Oof. It was SO heavy.

My husband handled the move.

And his hard work paid off —
giving our tree a fresh start.

You can tell the tree is happier now! 🌱

What clay soil taught me

Here’s what I’m learning about planting in clay soil:

Clay soil can be incredibly fertile and packed with nutrients.

But most plants struggle in it because the particles are tiny—
making the soil compact, slow-draining,
and really great at holding onto things (good or bad).

The good news?

I can mound plants above ground.
I can use raised beds.
I can improve clay’s texture and drainage with soil helpers.

And ultimately unlock its ability to be a garden goldmine.

How I plant in clay soil now

My new approach:

• For holes — dig wide, not deep
• Mix native soil with organic material
• Mound plants above the hole — never too deep
• Sometimes I skip digging and use no-dig raised beds

Soil helpers

Another thing I always do…

I add soil helpers to my garden:

• Pine bark fines
• Compost
• Manure
• Garden soil
• Worm castings
• Healthy leaves
• Mulch

These soil helpers feed what’s living in the soil—
earthworms, insects, fungi, bacteria—
and improve soil quality as they break down.

Long story short:
Soil helpers make my clay garden way more workable.

@lolacabaya we planted it wrong… but we saved it. 🌳✨ ever planted something too deep? or in the wrong spot? 🥴 thankful this one came back stronger. 📍 north carolina #thesmokingprophet #NorthCarolinaGarden #zone8garden #rubyfallsweepingredbud #goldenfallsweepingredbud ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

My biggest takeaway

If you’re gardening with clay soil too…

Plant a little higher.

Don’t be afraid to dig up and replant a struggling plant.

And if your plant doesn’t make it,
— I’m genuinely sorry. 🫂

Mean that.

Local garden centers and state extension offices can be an amazing resource when you need backup!

Welp, that’s all for today.

Here’s something else for you to read.

Garden Glow Up in Progress: Veggie Garden