When you don't properly plant the river birch tree, it often causes problems when it comes to water and root growth. Read more: The 11 Most Difficult Vegetables To Grow In Your Garden.

As the name implies, a river birch’s native habitat is near river banks, so they prefer moist soil. However, they can tolerate drier soil as the tree matures and the roots become well-established.

My river birch has had some yellow leaves over the past few years but has gotten much worse this year. Is there anything I can do to save my tree? — Joe Knudson, Waukegan, Ill. You should plan ...

Got a birch tree that doesn’t look too healthy after our long, dry summer? You aren’t alone. Both European white birch and river birch are popular landscape trees in the Inland Northwest.

Birch trees also perform poorly in compacted soil because they have shallow root systems, and compacted and heavy soils impede the tree’s roots from absorbing nutrients.

Because my river birches are planted close to the sidewalk, the root system is restricted on one side. Both trees have branches with bare portions that lack leaves. They also lose leaves during ...