Question
I have planted 5 silver birches in my garden (in London UK - clay type soil) in mid March. Three as a group in one position and then the other two as a group in a position about 3 metres from the first group. The group of three have come into full leaf in the past 2 weeks but neither of the group of two have budded at all. All five trees were planted at the same time in the same manner, with compost and rose food. Is there anything I can do to help/ save the non budding trees ? What possible reason could there be for such different results in a seemingly identical set of trees ?

Answer
Hi Kieran,
Thanx for your question.  Test out a couple of the branches by bending and if they snap, the tre is dead.  If not, perhaps the tree is just a bit behind the other trees.  I'd wait for a while to make sure.  It sounds to me more like you have some saplings that were stressed and they didn't survive the transplant.  I don't think you did anything wrong although I don't understand the rose food tretment. Give your saplings another 30 days and see what happens.  I hope this helps.

Tom