Redbuds just grew like crazy last year. I had several that grew 4 feet or more. One of them is about bent in half. What should I do with it? Stake it with a 10 foot pole? Cut it in half?
Were the lower branches pruned? If it can't grow out, it will try to grow up. Just my opinion but
I always considered Redbud more of a shrub than a tree. I guess all you can do now is stake it but don't prune any more.