Even well-established river birches are known to drop a lot of yellow leaves in hot weather. I wouldn't be too alarmed.

There's only one way to find out. In the future if you don't want to worry avoid transplanting at the worst possible time of the year. July/Aug

"avoid transplanting at the worst possible time of the year."

Well - everything I have read from UW Wisconsin tree people said that ACTUALLY Fall is the very worst time of year for Heritage River Birch. Thus - I took the their word for it.

I wanted to get it in before fall and frankly - seeing the condition it was in when we got them I would think they would be thankful . . . . . if they could think! LOL

I would think that if you keep them watered well, and if you have mulched them - no deeper than 4", as widely as you can, and no mulch in the 2-3" next to the trunk, then they should be fine. River birch are very prone to dropping leaves when stressed - the one may have been stressed before you ever bought it. By next spring, they should be well-rooted and look good.

On thinking overnight, I have a question. Did you do the planting or did you pay for it to be done? I assume you have a one year guarantee? Keep the receipt, and if that one still looks bad when it leafs out next spring, exercise the guarantee. I say this because, while it may well recover and be fine by next spring, the fact that it is stressed and the other one isn't leads me to wonder if this one has some problem or other that will lead to it never doing well. As I said, I may be overly pesimistic, and it may do just fine once it settles in, but there is no point in struggling for several years with it - you want a good looking tree ASAP!!!

Curious to know where you read that fall is the worst time. Do you have a web link? I won't even plant anything in the spring because spring doesn't last too long here.

quirkyquercus - I'll look for the link.

dibbit - I planted and we are keeping the receipts safe. With 4 new trees I was expecting the bumps in the road and have 1 year guarantee's on all.

We need good trees fast because of a south facing yard and the need for shade! The Maple can grow 3 feet a year and we'er hoping the birch's can do 2 feet a year!

From Ohio State University - can't find the Wisconsin one - I think I just talked to a guy - I get confused LOL

http://hcs.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/be_nigra.html