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How to Stop a Birch Tree From Turning Yellow
How to Stop a Birch Tree From Turning Yellow. Birch tree leaves will naturally turn yellow in the fall. When they turn yellow in the spring or summer, the tree is usually suffering from water saturation. Check the soil drainage in that location. If the soil drains poorly, you may need to transplant the tree. When transplanting is not an option,...
Birch tree leaves will naturally turn yellow in the fall. When they turn yellow in the spring or summer, the tree is usually suffering from water saturation. Check the soil drainage in that location. If the soil drains poorly, you may need to transplant the tree. When transplanting is not an option, there are still a few measures you can take, such as reducing watering. You may also check the depth at which the tree was planted. Planting birch trees too deep may also cause yellowing.
Things You'll Need
Ruler
Trowel
Check Soil Drainage
Dig a hole about 1 foot deep a short distance away from your tree.
Fill a watering can with about 2 gallons of water. Pour half of it into the hole. Wait for the water to drain, then immediately pour the rest of the water into it.
Plant a ruler into the hole and measure the water depth. Wait 15 minutes and measure again.
Multiply this number by 4. Your result is the amount of water that drains from the soil in one hour. A number of less than 1 inch per hour indicates very poorly draining soil, according to Cornell University. Birch trees prefer good soil drainage of at least 1 inch per hour, but not exceeding 6 inches per hour.
Transplant
Check other locations around your yard to find an area with better soil drainage, if necessary. If your birch tree is still young, consider transplanting it to a better location.
Dig a hole in an area with better soil drainage. The hole should be wide enough so that the roots may spread out without crowding. It should be deep enough to just cover the root ball.
Dig up your birch tree, digging carefully around the root ball.
Place the tree in the hole and tamp soil down around it. Give it about 1 to 3 inches of water to help it recover from the transplant.
General Care
Reduce your watering by at least half if transplanting is not a viable option. If the tree's leaves continue to turn yellow, reduce the watering again.
Check the depth at which you originally planted your birch tree. Using a trowel, dig into the soil next to the trunk until you reach the root ball. Birch trees can suffer when planted too deeply. The soil should be high enough to just cover the root ball; it should not extend up the trunk.
Remove soil from the trunk if the tree is planted too deeply. Pull the soil back from about a 1-foot diameter around the tree. Leave just enough soil so that the roots are covered.
