why are my river birch leaves yellow? needs saving please!
midorit
7 years ago
So, I've had this guy for a little over two months I think. It's been in perfect condition for the whole time. Great new growth. Really happy there.
I water it whenever it gets "dry" on our moisture reader. And all has been well.
The other day it said dryand I may have been one day late watering it. So I watered it, but I think it really watered it way too much.
By the next day there were some yellow leaves. Today there are many more yellow leaves. They are primarily under neath the tree.
What should I do? Are the roots rotting? What can be done to save it?
I have moved all mulch/ leaves off the dirt around the tree to let it air out. I noticed there is so much clay in the ground around my tree when I tried to loosen up the dirt a bit to let some air in.
I know these trees love water, but did I just kill it in one blow? Can it bounce back? Anyone know some tree CPR? haha like i.e should I replace top soil or something? I really love this tree and don't want to lose it
Thanks as usual!
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avamom2012
7 years ago
bengz6westmd
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
River Birch losing Leaves after Questionable Planting
Comments (11)My guess would be to water them plenty. At nurseries they water their stuff ALL the time so everything looks healthy and lush for customers to see. After plants get bought from these stores they still should get lots of water for a while. I've bought I don't know how many potted plants that died after I brought them home for seemingly no reason. Then I got a part-time job at a nursery where my biggest task was watering all their plants for like 3 or 4 hours a day. They'd even tell me "now water the big ones till water comes out the bottom". Yeah, the transplant shock could also have something to do with it. I always thot that the planting hole should be like 3 times the size as the root ball part....See MoreWhitespire birch leaves turning yellow and dropping in June!
Comments (10)Like most birches, "Whitespire" does have a preference for slightly to moderately acid soil. River birch is the birch species with the greatest need for low pH. Use the diagnostic hint supplied by heptacodium, as well as a soil test, to determine this. If you do end up wanting to adjust the pH downward, my recomnmendation is to use soil sulfur. This granular form can be simply spread on the soil surface. If you have the tree(s) in a mulch bed, you may be able to work some of the material into the mulch, but otherwise, don't worry about that. Sulfur is slowly converted into sulfuric acid by bacteria in the soil. This of course, brings dowwn the pH. Because it is a slow process, it can also be fairly long-lasting. But, in the long run, due to their buffering capacity, soils will tend to return to their former condition eventually. Still, as I always say, for a few trees in your yard, it is a simple matter to reapply a few years down the road. Birch are funny trees in that, when grown in peoples yards, they can seem finicky as to their requirements, while in nature, they get along easily. On my land, I've got lots of paper birch which BTW, is a far superior tree to Whitespire, IMO, and they do just fine. There are young saplings coming up in sunny openings all over the place. Good luck.......+oM...See MoreYellow, Dead Leaves on Newly planted River Birches
Comments (14)This first sentence is the answer: "If it is really hot, then watering, and spraying the leaves, every day may well be necessary." I'd simply add that you're dealing with transplant shock and that it is very normal under your current conditions for the entire tree to defoliate but to also, come back. It is entirely possible the tree may re-foliate this year even. Or, it may send most of it's energy to the rootball at this time. It's the tree's choice basically. I believe that keeping up on water will keep it alive on both top and bottom. When, or if you notice the buds dying, then expect the birch to sucker and as mentioned above, you'll need to remove any portions that do not re-foliate next spring and select new emerging growth for the style you wish for (clump or single trunk). If you have a cultivar of River Birch, then the new suckers that come up may not be be true to cultivar form but since you did not mention this, I won't assume. And this only applies for grafted trees. Trees produced from cuttings (I'd have to look River Birch propagation up to know for sure) - will produce suckers true to form. Yes, they are produced from cuttings. Dirr and Heuser (2006) confirm this. Dax Dirr, Michael A and Heuser, Charles, Jr. ÂThe Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue CultureÂ; (Second Edition 2006); Varsity Press, Inc. ISBN: 0942375092 or ISBN: 13: 978-0-942375-09-1...See MoreCaterpillars eating my river birch
Comments (5)Kimmsr, this is an insect that feeds in large communities in one localized area. The removal of one branch may result in getting rid of several hundred larvae in one fell swoop, without the use of any chemicals at all. The removal of one or two branches may result in the preservation of this season's foliage. Why on Earth do anything else? Please note that spraying with Bt should be a last resort practice, just as with any other pesticide. Resistance to Bt has shown up all over the world, largely due to agricultural use of Bt, but homeowners contribute to the problem, as well. There are millions of people in this country alone that foster butterfly and moth habitats, something worth thinking about. The indiscriminate use of Bt-kurstaki products isn't acceptable, especially if there are other measures available. Is Bt-k a valuable and useful product? Absolutely, when used with care. Right place, right reason, right product. In this particular situation, with these particular insects, Bt-k is not a good fit. Moccasinlanding, can I assume that you are talking about River Birch, since you live in the South? They are a pretty little tree, but 'can' be a real insect magnet. Even in a native setting, this is the case. Aphids love River Birch. Landscape planted R. Birch are probably more susceptible to problems as there might be excess fertilization, irrigation, compaction, or other factors that can contribute to a plant's susceptibility. You'll be lucky if you can keep the population at bay with strong sprays of water or insecticidal soap (you did say it was a young tree, right?). This winter, however, after the leaves have dropped, you can begin with some applications of dormant or other horticultural oil. Spray all along the branches and trunk, and try to get into the nooks and crannies where those eggs are hidden. I'd spray three or four times, up until the time of bud break. You'll go a long way in breaking the aphid cycle. Have you seen any scale insects on this plant? ;-) You might as well take a good look!...See More
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