River Birch dropping yellow/brown leaves - Ask Extension
My 3-year-old river birch seemed to be doing fine until this morning. About half of the leaves have suddenly turned yellow, some with brown spots, and...
Knowledgebase
River Birch dropping yellow/brown leaves #873945
Asked June 20, 2024, 2:35 PM EDT
My 3-year-old river birch seemed to be doing fine until this morning. About half of the leaves have suddenly turned yellow, some with brown spots, and they are falling fast. What is wrong and how can I save it? I planted this tree in memory of my dad. Thanks.
Oklahoma County Oklahoma
Expert Response
This looks like normal leaf drop when it gets hot. This is common for river birches. They prefer moist soils, but even if you are applying ample water, the summer heat in Oklahoma often results in the drop of mostly interior leaves.
When watering, do deep watering, to 10-12" deep; keep an eye on it, if it continues to get worse you might take samples to the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Center. You can reach out to them anytime for additional service - https://extension.okstate.edu/county/oklahoma/.
