My white paper birch is dying - Ask Extension
I have a very large,, old white birch tree in my front yard. It’s my pride and joy. I noticed that I’m losing a lot of branches, and I can see tha...
Knowledgebase
My white paper birch is dying #868143
Asked May 13, 2024, 7:53 AM EDT
I have a very large,, old white birch tree in my front yard. It’s my pride and joy. I noticed that I’m losing a lot of branches, and I can see that portions of the tree seem to be dying. Some branches don’t have any leaves on them anymore. The branches seem to have black on them, and I’m not sure that’s part of a normal white birch tree. I have no idea what to do about this. Do you have any thoughts on what kind of disease this tree might have? I really don’t want to lose it!
Jackson County Michigan
Expert Response
Good Morning,
Do you see any white fuzziness on the tree? It looks like it could be beech bark disease. Beech bark disease is a fungus spread via a scale insect. Specifically, at least two different species of nectria fungus (accidentally introduced to the U.S. via European nursery stock in the late 1800s) is introduced into susceptible beech trees via the beech scale, a tiny sap-feeding insect that pierces the thin bark of the tree. The fungus introduction results in canker development that eventually cuts off the flow of water and nutrients, killing the tree over the course of a few years. The widespread death of beech stands in the state have led to “beech thickets,” which occur via dense sprouting from the roots of the dead parent trees.
Is it beech bark disease? - MSU Extension
E-2746.bulletin (msu.edu)
Bronze birch borer - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)
You may want to have an arborist come out and assess your tree. You can find one here. Find an Arborist (treesaregood.org)
You can also send in a sample to get a firm diagnosis.
Submit Samples - Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
Do you see any white fuzziness on the tree? It looks like it could be beech bark disease. Beech bark disease is a fungus spread via a scale insect. Specifically, at least two different species of nectria fungus (accidentally introduced to the U.S. via European nursery stock in the late 1800s) is introduced into susceptible beech trees via the beech scale, a tiny sap-feeding insect that pierces the thin bark of the tree. The fungus introduction results in canker development that eventually cuts off the flow of water and nutrients, killing the tree over the course of a few years. The widespread death of beech stands in the state have led to “beech thickets,” which occur via dense sprouting from the roots of the dead parent trees.
Is it beech bark disease? - MSU Extension
E-2746.bulletin (msu.edu)
Bronze birch borer - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)
You may want to have an arborist come out and assess your tree. You can find one here. Find an Arborist (treesaregood.org)
You can also send in a sample to get a firm diagnosis.
Submit Samples - Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)
I hope this helps. Thanks for using our service.
