We are seeing river birch trees whose branches have died from the top down. Up to half of the tree or more may not be leafing out. In most cases, the cause of river birch dieback this year is drought combined with heat and high winds experienced over the last year.
Other types of trees are also impacted. Younger trees with less established root systems, trees planted too deep, those with girdling roots or mower or weed trimmer injury on the trunk, and trees that have not received correct supplemental watering the last two years may have dieback or dead branches.
River birch prefers moist soil, including semi-aquatic conditions along rivers, making them more susceptible to the extreme to exceptional drought we are currently in. It might be assumed lawn irrigation is enough for established trees. In average rainfall years it can be; however, we are far behind average precipitation and trees are drought stressed.
