Mature catalpa tree failed to fully leaf out this spring - Ask Extension
There were sparse leaves (and what leaves there were, were undersized) and few blossoms on my catalpa tree this year. The tree has two trunks and one ...
Knowledgebase
Mature catalpa tree failed to fully leaf out this spring #941223
Asked August 01, 2026, 1:43 PM EDT
There were sparse leaves (and what leaves there were, were undersized) and few blossoms on my catalpa tree this year. The tree has two trunks and one trunk has visible woodpecker holes, which makes me suspect an insect problem. But the crowns of both trunks are equally sparse.
I'm wondering if there any diseases or insects that have caused this "underperformance" in other catalpas in the Twin Cities area this year?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Woodpeckers drill into rotten wood so woodpecker damage is never a good sign. The sparse leaf out could be due to this being the 3 rd year of a significant drought. Trees need at least 5 gallons of water per week for good health. Catalpa trees do best in moist soil. It would be wise to have an arborist look at your tree. If limbs are dead they can fail without warning and do a lot of damage.
