Paper Birch - leaf damage - Ask Extension
Hi,
I am in Oakland county and I planted 50 birch trees (18" seedlings bought from the local conservancy) in April of this year. I had almost 95...
Knowledgebase
Paper Birch - leaf damage #871564
Asked June 04, 2024, 3:58 PM EDT
Hi,
I am in Oakland county and I planted 50 birch trees (18" seedlings bought from the local conservancy) in April of this year. I had almost 95% of the seedlings developed nice healthy leaves and have grown approx 4 to 6 inches. In mid May, I began seeing leaf damage that looks like insect damage. At present, I am seeing leaf damage on at least 60% of the trees. Seventy percent of the trees are planted on the edge of a wood area (partial sun) and 30% have full sun. I have not visibly seen the insect feeding on the leaves. Most of the damage is in the wooded area. Please provide recommendations on methods to reduce the leaf damage. A few of the trees are now dying due to the leaf damage.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
I would recommend continuing to check on these seedlings at different times of the day, including after dark or very early in the morning. This may be the work of slugs, who generally wait until dark to do most of their feasting, which is why you are not seeing them during the day. This year seems to be a good year for slugs, probably due to the mild winter and abundant rain. Look for silvery trails to help locate slugs, The following article offers several control options for control if you are able to confirm this hunch. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-2010
If you do not see any slugs, perhaps you will find another likely suspect by checking these seedlings more often and at different times of the day.
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
I would recommend continuing to check on these seedlings at different times of the day, including after dark or very early in the morning. This may be the work of slugs, who generally wait until dark to do most of their feasting, which is why you are not seeing them during the day. This year seems to be a good year for slugs, probably due to the mild winter and abundant rain. Look for silvery trails to help locate slugs, The following article offers several control options for control if you are able to confirm this hunch. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-2010
If you do not see any slugs, perhaps you will find another likely suspect by checking these seedlings more often and at different times of the day.
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
