Is this tree a lost cause? – Reddit Post

Hello everyone I hope this is the right place to field this question. The photo here is a river birch I planted a couple years ago. It was a free tree givin by a city program where I live. So I am assuming it’s one that is well suited to my location in Neb US. I watered it well, used tree stick fertilizer etc. This year it doesn’t seem to be filling the top branches with leaves? I have included a photo. The trunk seems to have shed it bark as well. I admit my son did nick it pretty good with a weed trimmer last summer. Anyway hoping you fine folks can help me because at r/trees I was surprised to see it’s a reddit devoted to weed. Come to think if it I bet plenty of people in that thread could have helped me as well lol. Anyway thanks for any input in advance.