Help me and my grey birch!

[flowerfreak]

We planted 2 Grey Birch last spring. We had a massive Japanese Beetle problem which left a lot of skeletonizing on the leaves last summer. This spring I have new buds that are blooming on some of the branches, but others there is nothing to be found. Are these branches dead? Do they need to be pruned? I’m afraid I’ll only have half a tree left if so. So far, I’ve fertilized this spring and am beginning to water this weekend for the season. Planning to spray with Eight when weather allows.

 

[arathol]

Is that supposed to be two trees? I see four separate trees right close to each other, buried to the hilt.
If there aren't any buds soon, might as well just remove everything and start over the right way......

 

[flowerfreak]

Is that supposed to be two trees? I see four separate trees right close to each other, buried to the hilt.
If there aren't any buds soon, might as well just remove everything and start over the right way......

This is a clumped grey birch, only 1 tree pictured. Not buried either. This is where each trunk exits the base of the root ball.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Was mulch buy one get one free? Step one is to get the root flare exposed.