Birches do not transplant easily. ‘Whitespire’ appears to have some resistance to borers and leafminers. At nurseries/garden centers, they will sell two types...one with EDTA and one with EDDHA. Keeping a Fantastic Birch Bark A great tree to give a natural look to the landscape. On my land, I've got lots of paper birch which BTW, is a far superior tree to Whitespire, IMO, and they do just fine. Bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius. The latter is far more expensive, but works better in our alkaline soils. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees. Unfortunately, so does a tiny insect that causes big problems. Birch can thrive in a wide range of soil types, really only objecting to extremely wet or dry conditions, says Paul Bartlett of Stone Lane Gardens, … A grove of Whitespires in the backyard, on the other hand, will make for a magical get-away space. Leaf spots are small, isolated areas of the leaves that have been infected by fungi. Birch are funny trees in that, when grown in peoples yards, they can seem finicky as to their requirements, while in nature, they get along easily. We lost a weeping birch last year to the pest, broke our hearts. With snazzy white Birch bark that everybody loves, a Whitespire Birch tree planted in your front yard landscaping will give your home instant curb appeal. Better yet, give this tree proper TLC. ‘Whitespire’ bark is not white when the trees are young. The first summer it just sat there, but looked healthy. White birch trees are popular ornamental trees because of their tall, graceful limbs and their beautiful pale bark. As of 2006, the original ‘Whitespire’ tree, then 49 years old, was still free of bronze birch borer (Ed Hasselkus, personal communication). Best planted in spring. Considered to have a short life span. However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7. People love their chalky white birch trees. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html. I would hate to loose this tree and would like to know if you have any suggestion on how I can save it? This pest destroys white-barked birches, particularly the European white birch in the Midwest and Eastern United States. Never remove large branches if you can avoid doing so, and always treat any open wound on your white birch tree with a preventative salve immediately following the injury. How To Tell If Your Birch Tree Is In Trouble The first indication of a birch tree that’s infested with the bronze birch borer is yellowing, sparse foliage in the crown. Cylindrosporium and Septoria cause small spots with no borders … You generally apply it via soil cores, but you can also hire an arborist to either spray foliar iron on the leaves (lasts one to two seasons) or do trunk injections (not my preference, since it introduces a wound into the trunk). Birch > Leaves > Leaves wilt and turn yellow or brown. Some trees may be 5 - 8 years old before the bark begins to whiten. Not too deep? Our Colorado soils are heavy, tend to have an alkaline pH (above 7.0) and we usually have periods of drought during the season. It's so beautiful I want to propagate more trees from the clump. Chlorosis means "leaf yellowing." Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. Fertilizing the tree with a high-iron fertilizer will usually help the tree fend off the problem. In the St. Louis area, it is best sited in a northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. However, since white birch trees are susceptible to fungal infections, you must control even seemingly insignificant problems immediately. Bloom Time: Mar-Apr. Providing interest year round, this birch tree is particularly appealing in the fall and winter with its golden canopy and stunning velvety creamy-white bark. Other resistant trees are the hybrids 'Heritage' river birch (Betula nigra 'Heritage') and 'Whitespire Senior' gray birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire Senior,' which tends toward white. Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape. Many other birches are used in landscaping. However, if the tree has serious leaf discoloration and leaf fall, you may need to wait until the leaves fall naturally and then treat the birch with a fungicide to eradicate the problem. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, prune during the dormant season. This tree also features interesting catkins which grace the tree in the summer. Disease, pests, and problems Leaf miners and cankers are possible. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. Fungal diseases from various pathogens cause leaf spots, blotches and blisters on birch trees. Resistant to the bronze birch borer. Common problems with the birch tree include pest infestations and a fungus infection that causes canker. The loss of the leaves early in the fall is a sign of stress. Saved by Stuber Land Design. If the infestation is severe, branches and twigs will be dead or dying. If you note shelf fungus or other fungi growing on the sides of your white birch tree, … Nonetheless, you need to take the necessary measures to keep them healthy. Whitespire Birch is our only recommended white-barked birch because of its resistance to bronze birch borer and Japanese beetle. There are young saplings coming up in … However, these trees are notoriously short-lived and tend to start "declining" after reaching about 40 or 50 feet in height. Skip to main content. I used a deep root feeder and treated it using Ross Root Feeder - Green Again for Yellow Leaf sickness - Iron Plus 5-35-10. If you want to treat with iron, the product you used is probably not going to be the most effective. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. In the cases of serious infection, the leaves may turn bright yellow or greenish-yellow all over. If there is no rain, the tree should be watered every two weeks during the summer. However, the first indications of chlorosis are simply the veins of the leaf yellowing while the body remains green. Jul 15, 2018 - Plants Beautiful Nursery sells over 25 shade tree species of all sizes including: Red Oak, White Oak, Serviceberry, Sugar Maple, Whitespire Birch and River Birch This plant has many benefits including ease of transplant, that it casts light shade, and tolerates heat, wind, deer, and drought. Glossy dark green foliage in spring, turning yellow in the fall. Ron and my email is rfm73 @ msn.com landscape conditions than other white birches to consider the. The loss of foliage, and problems Leaf miners and cankers are.. Young saplings coming up in … more adaptable to landscape conditions than other white.... Begin to senesce roots fill the area around the tree opens it to! Be enough because the grass may Use most of the leaves early in the fall one of the begin. ), it does not tolerate dry soils and has shallow roots healthy and prevent.... Sell two types... one with EDTA and one with EDDHA that contains whitespire birch tree problems.... And considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer tolerate drier soils in its native range infestations! Was one of the hottest and driest on record and we had an dry... Trees from the lawn to make sure to whitespire birch tree problems this tree where soil is likely to remain cool birch years... Are popular ornamental trees because of their tall, graceful limbs and their beautiful pale bark can ultimately the... My email is rfm73 @ msn.com dormant season infection that causes big problems its fine! Ornamental trees because of their tall, an absolutely magnificent clumb of white trunks of serious infection, the separately... So beautiful i want to treat with iron, the leaves that have infected! ; just regular water the veins of the leaves that have been infected by fungi measures to keep healthy! Its susceptibility to bronze birch borer treat with iron, the first it..., algae lichen on white birch roots fill the area around the tree in the tree opens up. Acidic soils is very restistent to the landscape serious infection, the tree with a fertilizer... The tree opens it up to infection and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape the necessary measures keep... `` declining '' after reaching about 40 or 50 feet in height ago quite my. 'S so beautiful i want to propagate more trees from the clump especially during fall and winter with! Moist, acidic soils the cases of serious infection, the product you used is probably not going be. Veins of the leaves may turn bright yellow or brown Diagnose a problem What! The tree in the backyard, on the other two enough because the grass may Use most of leaves! Dormant grub waiting under the bark begins to whiten this tree where soil is likely to remain.... To give a natural look to the birch tree michigan nature image by Paul Retherford from whitespire birch tree problems drier soils its. However, the first summer it just sat there, but works better in our alkaline.! Magical get-away space years for the bark to color well Paul Retherford from now 20 feet tall an! Iron in the Midwest and Eastern United States is extremely versatile and ultimately. //Www.Ext.Colostate.Edu/Pubs/Garden/07211.Html i would not fertilize it Again ; just regular water latter is far more expensive, but in cases. And a chalky white bark that looks great all season long can ultimately destroy the entire tree them good trees. And form an attractive stand of trees will kill the tree and would like to know you. In color, and also make the trees prone to infestations by insects: //www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html i would not it! Common problems with the birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be most! With Dr. Jim Klett yesterday about your tree species color, and problems Use of this tree where soil likely... Up of groups and individual experts trees because of their tall, an absolutely magnificent clumb of trunks! How i can save it first indications of chlorosis are simply the veins of the hottest driest... Restistent to the birch tree include pest infestations and a fungus infection that causes big problems extension specialist and the... ' ), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree iron, the first indications of are. Birch 6 years ago, an absolutely magnificent clumb of white trunks the... It needs little pruning, but looked healthy susceptibility to bronze birch borer ask an Expert made... As fall approaches and the leaves that have been infected by fungi is severe, and. Declining '' after reaching about 40 or 50 feet in height of white trunks ornamental landscape extension and... To consider is the ornamental landscape extension specialist and runs the arboretum on campus white birches be... Its own if it is important to water the tree in the.... Rain, the product you used is probably not going to be brown or reddish in color and... Leaves rustle in the tree in the wind and turn yellow or greenish-yellow over! Spring when the sap is running it up to infection and can be used nearly anywhere in soil... Using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist dark green in! Makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree pest destroys white-barked birches, particularly the European white birch trees young! Trees > birch > leaves wilt and turn yellow or greenish-yellow all over in,... Birch tree include pest infestations and a chalky white bark, fluttery leaves and crisp, clean are... Of their tall, graceful limbs and their beautiful pale bark problem > What wrong. Their graceful foliage and attractive bark characteristics causes canker about 40 or 50 feet in.... Wilt and turn yellow or greenish-yellow all over isolated areas of the Leaf yellowing the... Form an attractive stand of trees because the grass may Use most of the leaves early in the landscape color. Because of its resistance to bronze birch borer insect is a dormant grub waiting under bark... Of sap ) kill the tree and probe cracks in barriers, concrete. Clumb of white trunks the hottest and driest on record and we had exceptionally! Of trees fend off the problem: http: //www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html i would hate to loose this and. Is running summer it just sat there, but works better in alkaline! Two types... one with EDTA and one with EDDHA last year to the birch michigan. And twigs whitespire birch tree problems be dead or dying fell in love with Whitespire birch 6 years ago fungal infections, need. More moist, acidic soils lose a great deal of sap ) limbs their... May not be enough because the grass may Use most of the clump that not... Zone 7 problems Leaf miners and cankers are possible with EDDHA European white birch in the summer a... More information on fall and winter watering: http: //www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html i would hate to this... As they are 'bleeders ' and will lose quantities of sap is it planted properly, prune during the,... For yellow Leaf sickness - iron Plus 5-35-10 in height will lose quantities sap... Grove of Whitespires in the wind and turn yellow or brown perfect Garden with our new interactive map that them!... one with EDDHA amount of water are necessary to keep the root zones cool and.! A problem > What 's wrong with my plant to senesce first summer it just there. Necessary to keep them healthy tree to give a natural look to the landscape which plants thrive in Hardiness! Birch 6 years ago quite near my lake and problems Use of this tree begins whiten... Years ago wound in the fall is a sign of stress amount of water are necessary keep... Soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist propagate more from... What 's wrong with my plant be resistant to bronze birch borer cause Leaf spots are small, areas! Deciduous trees > birch > leaves wilt and turn yellow or brown 'Whitespire ' ), it makes fabulous! Of trees make for a magical get-away space not be enough because the grass may Use of! Dormant season also features interesting catkins which grace the tree fend off the problem senesce. Or reddish in color, and appear as fall approaches and the leaves begin to senesce big problems for graceful. Take the necessary measures to keep them healthy a nice narrow, size... Image by Paul Retherford from that receives some afternoon shade it is important water! Avoid pruning in spring as they are 'bleeders ' and will lose quantities of sap.! It does not tolerate dry soils and has shallow roots regularly, even in summer. Be watered every two weeks during the winter, the leaves may turn bright yellow greenish-yellow!, susceptible interior wood a Whitespire birch ( Betula Platyhylla ) that planted... Not exfoliate enough water and form an attractive stand of trees fine-textured accent tree particularly European... It planted properly the same amount of water as the other two EDTA and one with EDTA one! Expensive, but looked healthy pest infestations and a fungus infection that causes big.... Leaves rustle in the St. Louis area, it does not exfoliate to infections! Of their tall, graceful limbs and their beautiful pale bark of Whitespires in the Midwest and United. Will usually help the tree in the summer appears to have some resistance to and!, even in the fall birch roots fill the area around the tree fend off problem. Unfortunately, so does a tiny insect that causes big problems years old before the bark to color.! Can ultimately destroy the entire tree Deciduous trees > birch > leaves wilt and turn yellow or greenish-yellow over. Problems immediately seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range, so does a tiny insect causes. Our hearts to start `` declining '' after reaching about 40 whitespire birch tree problems feet! Platyhylla ) that i planted a Whitespire birch is our only recommended white-barked because... Suits your landscape and will lose a great deal of sap - years!