River Birch Tree Leaves Are Curling Up And Turning Brown

Question From: G. Boucher - Rugby, North Dakota, United States
Q: I have a river birch that has 3 trees (clumps) together. The largest tree has its leaves curling up and turning brown. The other 2 trees in the clump are fine. I do not see any webbing or holes in the trunk, leaves or branches.
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A: You have a multi stemmed river birch, also called a clumping birch. My guess is the center stem has a canker or other fungal disease. It's only a matter of time before it spreads. It looks like the disease has been there for some time and it's my guess the tree is dying. That said, I am not a tree expert. You might get an onsite inspection from a certified arborist to see if there are measures that can be taken to save the tree. Best Nancy