Is My River Birch Dying? - Ask Extension
My River Birch is 4 Years old and only one of the trunks is leafing out fully. The other trunks don't seem to be leafing out very well. The leaves are...
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Is My River Birch Dying? #670687
Asked July 30, 2020, 10:31 AM EDT
My River Birch is 4 Years old and only one of the trunks is leafing out fully. The other trunks don't seem to be leafing out very well. The leaves are yellow and very scarce.
Macomb County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi,
Sorry to see you river birch is not doing well.
Looking at your photos I suspect that your tree is suffering from birch die back.
Birch dieback causes branches, or parts of the branches, to die.
Fallen leaves can protect the roots, so when they are raked up, the roots lose their protection. Birch dieback causes branches, or parts of the branches, to die. It can affect just a cluster of branches or one whole side of a tree. Birch trees have shallow roots, and therein lies the problem. Shallow roots can be damaged by heat. Fallen leaves can protect the roots, so when they are raked up, the roots lose their protection. An early freeze can also kill off branches, as can warm weather in late winter and/or early spring. Light watering or drought conditions will not get enough water to the roots and a poorly drained soil, will not let excess water drain away, causing root damage. This will not only cause dieback, but will leave the tree susceptible to other diseases and bug infections. Preventing dieback is usually accomplished by planting the tree where it will get at least some shade and using an organic mulch. Since your tree is established you should try to shade the roots with mulch.
The leaves look like they are chlorotic. Chlorosis (yellowing) refers to leaves that are light green or yellow--not a healthy, dark green. Often, leaf veins remain dark while the rest of the blade is lighter. Soils that have a high (alkaline) pH level, may cause problems such as nutrient-deficiency chlorosis. You should test your soil pH levels. Birches thrive at 6.5 pH or below. In alkaline soil, minor nutrients are often bound within the soil chemistry, making them unavailable to the tree. Iron or manganese seems to be the most limiting nutrient in a high soil pH. MSU offers soil testing, click on the link below for more information to get your soil tested. You'll want to test your soil before you begin any treatments to ensure what nutrients your soil may be lacking and causing the yellowing leaves. Your results will be 'emailed to you with results on what your soil may be lacking and your pH level.
Sorry to see you river birch is not doing well.
Looking at your photos I suspect that your tree is suffering from birch die back.
Birch dieback causes branches, or parts of the branches, to die.
Fallen leaves can protect the roots, so when they are raked up, the roots lose their protection. Birch dieback causes branches, or parts of the branches, to die. It can affect just a cluster of branches or one whole side of a tree. Birch trees have shallow roots, and therein lies the problem. Shallow roots can be damaged by heat. Fallen leaves can protect the roots, so when they are raked up, the roots lose their protection. An early freeze can also kill off branches, as can warm weather in late winter and/or early spring. Light watering or drought conditions will not get enough water to the roots and a poorly drained soil, will not let excess water drain away, causing root damage. This will not only cause dieback, but will leave the tree susceptible to other diseases and bug infections. Preventing dieback is usually accomplished by planting the tree where it will get at least some shade and using an organic mulch. Since your tree is established you should try to shade the roots with mulch.
The leaves look like they are chlorotic. Chlorosis (yellowing) refers to leaves that are light green or yellow--not a healthy, dark green. Often, leaf veins remain dark while the rest of the blade is lighter. Soils that have a high (alkaline) pH level, may cause problems such as nutrient-deficiency chlorosis. You should test your soil pH levels. Birches thrive at 6.5 pH or below. In alkaline soil, minor nutrients are often bound within the soil chemistry, making them unavailable to the tree. Iron or manganese seems to be the most limiting nutrient in a high soil pH. MSU offers soil testing, click on the link below for more information to get your soil tested. You'll want to test your soil before you begin any treatments to ensure what nutrients your soil may be lacking and causing the yellowing leaves. Your results will be 'emailed to you with results on what your soil may be lacking and your pH level.
Thank you so much for the information. I will definitely have the soil tested. When I was doing my own research I read that the roots could be the reason my tree was suffering. After digging them up I noticed that many off the roots appeared to be growing around the base of the tree instead of out into the ground. Many of them were growing over top of each other in a circle. I went ahead and trimmed the ones that looked to be restricting the other roots. Take a look at the attached pictures. Hopefully what I did doesn’t kill the tree lol. I guess I’ll find out.
Your correct in that girdling roots will cause a slow decline of a tree to the point the tree will die. I don't see any girdling roots in you photos. I assume these are the after pictures. Time will tell if you went to far in removing roots. Typically if the girdling roots you removed are approximately 1" or so in dia there should not be an issue. Best of luck in saving your river birch tree.
