Paper Birch in poor health.

L

Leafguy

New member
Hey Guys,

I have client with a paper birch in poor health. Looks like Bronze Birch Borer. I can't seem to find any evidence of the bug. I'm not very experienced when it comes to this bug since it's not very common in my area.

Leaves are normal size low on the tree and very tiny up top. Tree is dying from the top down. Landscaping has been done 2 yrs prior. Planted in heavy clay soil and close to driveway. When they water they do deep soakings. Best geuss is the tree is 15-20yrs old.

My thoughts to the home owner-- Possible root damage from landscaping, limited space for the roots to spread do to the driveway and clay soil as well as idling cars near by. I'm not ruling out birch borer just don't want to jump the gun.

Any suggestions for treatments?
 
Bronze Birch Borer is easilly ID'ed. Look for the D shaped exit holes and the muscle-like ridges protruding from the bark.
Dying from the top down is typical, but could also be a bunch of other causes as well.
If it's BBB I can't offer much better advice than proper cultural practices. I used to use MSR, but now that pesticides are banned here we just watch them die!
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Root damage and poor soil could be it as well. I see alot of trees drown in clay soils - water goes to the bottom of the hole and can't percolate out, especially if the sides of the hole were glazed in planting.

The driveway isn't helping any due to reflected heat.

If you are in North America the species of 'paper' birch will be an issue as well. Lots of 'paper' birch sold and planted is B. pendula, rather than the native B. papyrifera. The exotic never does as well here, especially with BBB.

Seed sourcing could be another issue. Paper birch has a wide range and the genetic hardiness may not be matched to the area. With touchy trees, try to go for locally sourced stock.

Hope that helps.
 
I second the exit holes and the "bubbled" tunnels as evidence of BBB.

Until you can positively ID it as BBB and then attack the pest you can, and should look at aerating the root zone either through radial trenching or punching 12-18 inch deep holes. Vertical mulching would also be a good idea.
 
Also, Paper Birch trees belong in at least partial shade. They are all too often planted in full sun as a specimen tree, and as they mature, all the other little nasty problems compound. Site is usually the first part of the problem.

-Tom
 
Yeah I hundred the BBB as with the root can you find the root flair and see if there are any girdling roots the is also a sign that is happening ( tree looks like a pole and not a big flair near the roots).
 
Thanks for the tips guys. My first recomendation was vertical mulching as well as scraping away some of the new landscaping. How do you guys charge for vertical mulching? I find it hard to charge for when it's only one tree. I don't have a power auger so I rent. Any ideas on cheaper ways to drill the hole?
 
Bronze birch borer is endemic to the native range of birches. Paper birch and European birch are both very susceptible.

However, the BBB is a secondary and opportunistic pest. A healthy tree can withstand the attack, a stressed tree cannot.

Many authorities state that once a birch starts a decline spiral, that is it. Ethically, be sure you can offer a service that has a chance of success. Keep your client fully informed as to the realistic prognosis of what you are offering.

And with that said, I am in no way implying you are offering an unethical service. I am just encouraging you to be frank in your evaluation of the survivability of this tree and any treatments offered. All this said with no pictures, so very generic.

Sylvia
 
Thanks Sylvia,

I pretty much told the client what I could do but in reality the tree may not come back and it might not be cost effective for them. I'll be doing work on the property later in the season and will re-visit the the tree then.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Many authorities state that once a birch starts a decline spiral, that is it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Silvia, I used to hold that as a firm axiom as well but over the past couple of years I have found that Betula papyerifera can more often than not be turned around by dead-wooding, acute and prophylactic treatment for bbb with injectable product and root-zone aeration and mulching.

Betula populifolia on the other hand is a chase to the end as they have very little success in coming back. Around here the B. populifolia has about a 15 - 25 year lifespan regardless of care but B. papyerifera readily can go half a century and more.

I agree with you wholeheartedly though that the bbb is a secondary problem, often symptomatic of a deeper issue. the two primary issues here are root zone problems (drainage, compaction, turf & stupidity) and habitual sapsucker damage.
 
Everyone loves birch even after dead and collapsing they leave them in high traffic areas. Tom and Sylvia gave some good advice. Site is everything. North side of building is good or with canopy cover and a super soaking just before fall freeze.

I won't climb and cut a dead top out as big chunks fall on your head and the damage to the lower live part. So what I've come up with is total removal or shaking the top with a throwline or rope to knock down the stuff that will fall in a strong wind. I started out with this policy but once a year someone will talk me into a dead top removal. I've regretted it every time.
And injections.....well.
 
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