Helen Williams
Joined: 07 Jun 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Plano, Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:51 pm Post subject: River Birch dying |
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We replaced our "builders" fence this June. I emphasized to the contractor that the workmen must be especially careful of tree roots on my neighbor's and my property. Roots that they had to cut were to be "clean cut." The post holes were dug by hand to about 2-3 feet and then an auger was used.
I was reasonably confident that the workmen had been very careful. The roots they showed me were clean cut and no more than an inch and a quarter. However, my neighbor's river birch is losing lots of leaves now. She is sure it is dying.
The river birch has been in place for about 10 years. It has grown to a little beyond the height of her two story house. It grows very close to the spot where I lost a lacebark elm to cotton root rot a year ago. My neighbor added a large garden of annuals at the base of the tree last fall. I don't think they dug very deep.
Has my fence killed her tree? Is there anything that can be done to help the tree in addition to the sick tree treatment? |
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The Ent
Joined: 19 Mar 2003
Posts: 784
Location: ,
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:18 am Post subject: |
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I doubt it was the fence from your description.
The Birch was probably living the good life last month with all that extra rain, and the way that the weather changed very quickly to the typical hot and dry for this time with littel transition probably shocked it a bit. My Improved Heritage Birch got some yellow leaves and dropped a few until I gave it's part of the yard a good deep watering. It's happy now.
If I were your neighbor, I'd water that part of the yard and give it a shot of organic ferilizer like Bioform or Sustane.
If this doesn't help, I'd go to the sick tree treatment to address whatever is causing stress. |
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