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Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 15:40
| Used to be full, now seems almost dead. Not sure what kind of tree it is either. The branches have buds on them but they break off easily which tells me the branches are dead. There is some new growth on the tree but limited. It started happening a year ago. Before that, it was full every year. Located in Orange County NY. We have had rain almost every week of the year. The tree is about 12 years old and I really have not done anything to it. Any help would be appreciated. |
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- Posted by strobiculate none (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 16:45
| The tree is european weeping birch. The problem is bronze birch borer. Time for a replacement. |
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| Aka Betula pendula 'Youngii'. I have one in my tiny garden and I thank goodness we don't have BBB. The only thing it gets is aphids but that makes it a great bird tree. They also like the wind broken dead twigs and bits of bark at nesting time. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Weeping birch
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 22:12
| Native paper birch "might" do better for you if you're of a mind to replace like with like. I say "might" because depending on where you are, BBB can hammer the native tree too. I have some land in the "near north" of N. Wisconsin that seems to be paper birch heaven. The trees there are thrifty and happy. But other places in this same state, even other places in N. Wisconsin feature lots of dead and dying birch from BBB. Drought is usually the tipping point. BBB homes in on drought-stressed birch trees. +oM |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 22:14
| .....but you said rain has been regular. Your tree is dying because that species of birch- Betula pendula-has no resistance to BBB. +oM |
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- Posted by salicaceae z8b FL (My Page) on Tue, Sep 4, 12 at 9:11
| How do we know it is BBB? Other maladies affect European birches. This cultivar seems more resistant to BBB than others as they seem to get older than the species in much of the eastern U.S. Do you see the "D-shaped" exit holes? |
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| Might be a good idea to get an agricultural extension agent to look at it for a good diagnosis. |
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| I don't see any holes at all but I will look closer. What I am planning to do at least for this year is trim it real down (real down) and see what happens next year. As I mentioned and the pictures show, there is some new branch growth. Should I be spraying it with an insecticide? Permethrin? Anyway, thanks to all for the feedback. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 4, 12 at 12:43
| let me sum it up ... its old.. its disfigured.. its ugly ... and it aint grandpa.. get rid of it ... it isnt worth the cost of trying anything ... its an opportunity for something BETTER!! .. not the same thing ... ken ps: cant get rid of g-pa .. lol ... |
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