I purchased a 5' bare root Renaissance river birch in April and planted it according to the nursery instructions. It seems to have established itself...
Knowledgebase
River birch issues #889592
Asked November 09, 2024, 7:28 PM EST
I purchased a 5' bare root Renaissance river birch in April and planted it according to the nursery instructions. It seems to have established itself well, but I have noticed the leaves have spots on them (this variety is supposed to be resistant to many things that plague this type of tree), and the trunk near the bottom has an odd scar (?). The tree has been protected from rabbits and other damage by a fence since its planting. I can live with the aesthetics of these issues, but wonder if they mean the tree is compromised and if I should ask for a replacement before the nursery's guarantee period expires? Thank you for your assistance and advice!
Ramsey CountyMinnesota
Expert Response
I wouldn’t worry about the leaf spots. They are very common this year with our strange weather. They will drop soon anyway.
The trunk of your tree, however, looks like it has been damaged pretty severely.
It looks like it has lost its bark around at least half of the trunk and there is a wound at the soil level. I see a lot of mulch. When you apply mulch, keep it away from the trunk of the tree so that you can see the root flare. Then apply the mulch 2-3 inches deep, 1-2 feet outward.
Could the tree have been damaged by a weed whip or mower?
I assume your warranty is for at least a year, if not 2. You could wait until spring to see if it leafs out well on all sides. Otherwise you may have to replace it.
Thank you for your reply! I am at a loss to know where the wound came from, as the tree has been surrounded by a fence to keep the ubiquitous rabbits away and there is no grass to mow or weeds to whack in the vicinity (just wild ginger ground cover, hostas, and balloon flowers!). I had initially done as you suggested with the mulch, being sure that the base of the tree was exposed both from soil and mulch, but it must have settled and I didn't notice it over the course of the summer. Is there anything to be done for it now other than to move mulch away from the trunk? And if it leafs out fully next spring, would that be an indication that the tree is not compromised for the longer term? Thank you again for your assistance! Debbie
It’s impossible to say for sure what will happen. A mature tree would probably leaf out next year solely from stored energy. Since your tree was just planted this year, it doesn’t have much stored energy and will probably show any weakness next spring.
There is nothing you can do at this time. Jus the sure to replace the fence protection for this winter.
