Diagnose Issue with Weeping Birch tree/referring to earlier ques - Ask Extension
Birch tree in backyard is showing signs of stress. Could be Bronze Birch Borer Beetle or probably drought. What do you think is most likely, and in ...
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Diagnose Issue with Weeping Birch tree/referring to earlier ques #846424
Asked August 19, 2023, 5:28 PM EDT
Birch tree in backyard is showing signs of stress. Could be Bronze Birch Borer Beetle or probably drought. What do you think is most likely, and in your opinion
should I be thinking of removing it? Though it is not yellowing at the top, it has been dropping leaves, as well as smaller slender branches, It is showing slashes in the
bark with dark patches edging into dark orange.
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
Bronze birch borer usually shows up with upper crown decline and death. However, it may not always show up that way. But it is the most destructive pest of birch. The wounds you had in the picture do not look like bronze birch borer.
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/BronzeBirchBorer.pdf
In this case it could be drought, can you deep water the tree a couple times a month? A slow long soak around the tree, but only twice a month might help if drought is the issue.
I can't really say which issue this is without inspecting the tree closely, but we don't have capacity to visit homesites. You might consider calling an arborist, but that costs money of course.
Bronze birch borer usually shows up with upper crown decline and death. However, it may not always show up that way. But it is the most destructive pest of birch. The wounds you had in the picture do not look like bronze birch borer.
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/Documents/forestbenefits/BronzeBirchBorer.pdf
In this case it could be drought, can you deep water the tree a couple times a month? A slow long soak around the tree, but only twice a month might help if drought is the issue.
I can't really say which issue this is without inspecting the tree closely, but we don't have capacity to visit homesites. You might consider calling an arborist, but that costs money of course.
