Birch not leafing out

Question: Hi,  

Question 1. These three birches were planted in Aug of 2021, all were healthy and grew vigorously last year, but the center tree pictured here has failed to fully leaf out this spring. The upper branches are alive and tender, there are also buds (which have been there several weeks now). There is no visible trunk damage, soil is sandy loam, well watered with good drainage. Wondering if it’s a problem with the root stock, and whether it’s worth waiting to see if it recovers?

Question 2.
This dwarf mugo pine is still in its container (#10) and I noticed the roots may be girdling. Should I return it and look for a better tree or will it be okay if I cut the girdled roots?

responder: Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied May 23, 2023, 10:48 PM EDT
response: River birch develop yellowing of leaves (chlorosis) when planted in alkaline soils (pH higher than 6.5)  Best soil pH for river birch is a pH 4.0 to 6.5.   Chlorotic trees will eventually die unless soil pH is reduced or supplemental iron is added. Have your soil tested by the U of M Soil Testing Lab     Water your  birch during dry weather. Birch trees are shallow-rooted trees that need a fair amount of moisture. The best way to keep them healthy is to make sure they have 3 inches of organic mulch and adequate soil moisture throughout the growing season. The mulch will help conserve moisture and keep the roots cooler, and your young trees will not have to compete with the established turf grass for moisture or nutrients. It can take years before a newly planted tree can establish a new root system based on the caliper of the trunk.  Young trees need extra irrigation during the root establish period. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-newly-planted-trees-and-shrubs     Japanese beetles feed on the foliage, flowers and fruit of more than 300 different plants. Birch trees are one of their favorites. Defoliation by Japanese beetles is most harmful to recently planted trees (those planted in the last two or three years) and trees in poor health. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/river-birch https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/yardandgardenreport/2014-11-15/birch-a-winter-wonder  https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/birch/   I am not sure why your tree is not leafing out. Return the dwarf Mugo  pine  https://trees.umn.edu/mugo-pine-pinus-mugo

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 23, 2023, 11:39 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the quick response and great info! These birch are Whitespire and my understanding is they are less particular to soil PH compared to river birch, however we do have slightly alkaline soil (7.3). We’ve been trying our best to keep to the other points you’ve mentioned. …Regarding the lack of leaves, do you think it should be replaced, or do we give it a chance? Thanks for the mugo advice, we’ll get a new one :)JoeOn Tue, May 23, 2023 at 9:48 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied May 24, 2023, 10:51 AM EDT
response: Betula platyphylla var. japonica 'Whitespire' with a common name of gray birch is best known for its upright form, non-exfoliating white bark, dark green pointed triangular leaves and  yellow fall color. Gray birch, is a short-lived (15-25 years), narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40’ tall. It does not tolerate dry soils and has shallow roots. It  may self-seed and form an attractive stand of trees.These trees may prefer more moist, acidic soils than you have. Birches in lawns should be watered every 7-10 days if rainfall amounts are less than 1 to 1 1/2 inches per week. To water, allow the garden hose to  slowly run beneath the tree for several hours so that plenty of  moisture reaches the root zone. The following sites are common problems with this species.  I included them only to help you care for your trees  in the future. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/birch-leafminers   https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-50/E-50.html Scratch a couple of twigs to see if any are fresh green underneath. If it’s moist and green underneath, your tree’s alive.