I would have called this 5 trunks as I tend to think of leaders as starting part way up a trunk where damage has eliminated the top of the main growth stem. Regardless, often river birch grow as multi-trunked trees. You could cut back to the three healthiest or leave it as is if the trunks and branches aren't too thick and crossing/rubbing, but I think that if you take it to one trunk from 5 you will end up with lots of suckers since you have removed so much of the canopy at once. I think generally that the number of trunks is largely an aesthetic choice for this species. I live next to what used to be a wholesale nursery, and they deliberately grew multi-trunked birches. Where I work there is a bed of several multi-trunked river birch that is lovely, with a broad canopy of dappled shade.

Yes, I meant trunks, thank you for the correction. I may keep all 5 trunks then, as they are all growing outward and may end up being an interesting river birch. Since the main leader of each trunk died back, should I prune to the closest live branch and train that to be the new leader?

You can cut off any dead wood. The tree will very quickly make its own leaders (this is a very fast-growing tree if it has sufficient water) but no harm in helping it make the right choices! Prune to the branch that looks like it will make the most attractive and most structurally sound leader. These are decurrent trees that have wide canopies when mature.

you seem to imply.. that there is something wrong with 5 ... over the commonly seen 3 ???? .. or that is how i read it ...

i would not prefer to have large .. open.. gaping wounds.. down around soil level ... jsut for the sake of having the magic 3 number ...

or i misread your premise ...

with a last fall transplant.. and presumed winter damage ... [not sure i would rule out transplant shock] .... seems like late spring.. is a bit early to give up ...

but if you have a warranty.. talk with your seller ...

a pic of the whole might change minds ...

ken

Thanks again for the input. I have no problem with 5 trunks, just wasn't sure it would be best for strength and growth to cut it down to 3 trunks. I'll take a pic of the full tree this weekend and post it.

When I got the tree last fall it was about 6 feet tall. I have had to cut almost 2 feet off every main leader for the trunks, so it is now only about 4 feet tall. Hopefully it takes off this year and makes up for the winter damage it suffered. Unfortunately I don't have the receipt as it was a gift.

Here is a picture. Also, can I transplant this in June in zone 8, or should i wait till fall?

Wait till fall. You really only want to transplant deciduous trees (all woody plants, really) when they are dormant. In this case, after it has dropped its leaves. If you do it now, it will remind you of this fact by dropping all of its leaves!

I'm still struggling to decide if I want to keep this birch. I have to move it this fall no matter what, but my concern is that this tree has been through so much, and the trunks are very crooked, so I'm worried this tree may never look that great. Either that or it could look really unique. Looking for some input as to whether I should keep it as is or just get a new tree to replace.