Wilting Silver Birch

Honkycat

Hi,
I planted 3 silver birches a year ago. Two are doing well, but one is wilting severely. Just wondering if anyone could help me with a diagnosis? They are 15 ft high.

Thanks,
Steve.

Davesnave

Wilting is usually because something's wrong at the roots; often simple dryness, but it can also be when the roots have rotted through being too wet.

Otherwise, the most likely culprit is disease, though birch are normally tough old things.

I have a similar problem with two of mine; not wilting, but just not thriving, so few leaves. I have just given them a stern talking-to, as I planted dozens of other small trees with them in 2013. If they cant cut it in the woodland, then off with their heads!

So, plenty more trees to plant next winter for pennies if these fail, but I guess if you are talking betula ermanii at £35 each, such a cavalier approach might be expensive!

Honkycat

Thank you,
The leaves seem ok strangely enough, but the branches are wilting and the whole top is bent over. Very annoying as you say, because I don't want to fork out for another one that may not be the same size as the other two either. I would post a photo, but don't know if that's possible.

DaftyDuck

Is it, in fact, Betula pendula Youngii , a weeping birch, Young's weeping birch? Very nice when a good size, elegant on its own when it shows itself best in a light breeze.

Tree suppliers don't always get their labelling right!

Honkycat

I don't think so (we have one of those in the back garden) but you've planted a seed of doubt in my mind now! How could I tell?