Birch tree - Ask Extension
Our birch tree is very droopy and limp.
Knowledgebase
Birch tree #876025
Asked July 05, 2024, 4:06 PM EDT
Our birch tree is very droopy and limp.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
We can't determine why some of the trunks and branches are dropping by viewing the photos.
However, wind, heavy rain, and rapid new growth may account for the droop. So might insect and/or disease damage.
Some birch species exhibit a weeping growth habit. That characteristic may have been exacerbated by one or more of the above mentioned factors.
Whether and to what extent the drooping trunks and branches will right themselves remains to be seen.
In the meantime, consider asking a certified arborist to assess the tree's health on site and recommend a course of action. If remedial pruning is needed to improve the tree's form, an arborist will be able to provide that service.
If you decide to hire an arborist, the following information may be useful:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional
Here is a reply to a similar question:
https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=260004
However, wind, heavy rain, and rapid new growth may account for the droop. So might insect and/or disease damage.
Some birch species exhibit a weeping growth habit. That characteristic may have been exacerbated by one or more of the above mentioned factors.
Whether and to what extent the drooping trunks and branches will right themselves remains to be seen.
In the meantime, consider asking a certified arborist to assess the tree's health on site and recommend a course of action. If remedial pruning is needed to improve the tree's form, an arborist will be able to provide that service.
If you decide to hire an arborist, the following information may be useful:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional
Here is a reply to a similar question:
https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=260004
