Birch ill this year...

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intercessor Fox River Valley Are, WI(Zone 5a) Jun 14, 2006

Hi,
Our birch tree, do not know the age, is about 30ish feet high and has a drip diameter of about 25 to 30 feet. Anyway, the leaves are yellowish this year with some green along the veins. Any ideas? maybe it needs a better diet...

intercessor

Post #2390938
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Decumbent Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6b) Jun 15, 2006

It is chlorotic, which means it is suffering a deficiency of iron, magnesium, or manganese. Chlorosis is sometimes caused by other problems too, but usually a deficiency of the named elements due to a high pH is the issue. Almost always, there is plenty of iron, magnesium, or manganese in the soil, but because of the high pH they are locked up and unavailable to some plants, many birches among them.

Treating your soil around the tree to a distance twice that of the dripline with granulated sulfer will lower the pH for a time. Repeated treatments over time will be necessary. Follow the application instructions on the bag. Sulfer can be purchases from many garden centers and agricultural supply houses.

Scott

Post #2391084
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bigcityal Appleton, WI(Zone 5a) Jun 15, 2006

I'm not sure what has caused such chlorosis this year, but I do know of many River Birch that had good color on previous years that are very pale this year.

Post #2391141
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intercessor Fox River Valley Are, WI(Zone 5a) Jun 15, 2006

Perhaps the week+ of rain we had in May washed away some of the minerals, just a thought...

Post #2391273
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bigcityal Appleton, WI(Zone 5a) Jun 15, 2006

I certainly considered that as really the only thing out of the ordinary that might have caused it. River Birch do not like the 7.5~ pH and 75% or so are normally chlorotic to begin with. White Birch are usually fairly stable.

Post #2391330
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