Birch trees

I dunno what he was thinking, but one of the previous owners planted a cluster of 3 birch trees in my front lawn. Our climate does not suit them. And apparently this season I wasn't watering the trees enough, so one of them decided to collapse. It leafs turned yellow and the tree started shedding them. So my lawn boasts pretty autumn colors now, only it's June. When I noticed that, I ran to adjust the watering system, to keep the other two trees from following suit.

Sometimes I think that it would be right to put these three out of their misery and plant some native tree, all knotty and with spikes for leaves. Or a palm, or something.