Question: What would cause my redbud to die over a period of months? It’s just gotten weaker and weaker. I see small holes in the trunk.

Answer: The holes are probably from the redheaded borer. The adults look like small yellowjackets, with burgundy heads. Redbuds’ life expectancies are usually in the 25- to 35-year range, so time alone will take its toll. The borers can be either a primary problem, or they can move in after old age drags the trees down. You can slow the borers’ spread by spraying with a borer preventive every several weeks in the summer.