Ir the direction that it's bending in, the direction of the prevailing wind? Maybe a wind tunnel between houses? If it is, that's part of its natural behaviour too.
Just checking, you are aware of how big it could get when it's mature? There's one across the road from us that's well over twice the height of the houses. The landlord of the house whose garden it's in has had it lopped a few times, not very well .
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
This is only 4 years old and it's just the top that's limp. Thanks for all the suggestions, increased watering hasn't helped it, I think the answer might be from Fairygirl, its put on a lit of soft growth which will hopefully firm up in the coming weeks.
It may get a bit big for where you have it, so you might have to consider pollarding it at some point, which is a pity. It just looks very near the fence and other things in there, but hard to tell from the pic.
If you do have to pollard in future, avoid hacking it. There's a large birch not far from me which has had that treatment and it really needs taking out as it looks dreadful. It's just been butchered.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Ash Bennette, just sit tight and wait. This weather is playing havoc with a lot of plants and your birch may well perk up in cooler weather. The very well established, 40ft high birch trees the other side of our boundary are today dropping their green leaves (all over our courtyard!). It's a stress reaction to drought.
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When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
It just looks very near the fence and other things in there, but hard to tell from the pic.
If you do have to pollard in future, avoid hacking it. There's a large birch not far from me which has had that treatment and it really needs taking out as it looks dreadful. It's just been butchered.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Lots of patience needed in gardening!