I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Great growth in a variety of soil conditions. Common problems with the birch tree include pest infestations and a fungus infection that causes canker. I would hate to loose this tree … Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. Is it getting the same amount of water as the other two? Tree & Plant Care. Fungicides may help resolve minor heart rot issues, but in most cases this disease will kill the tree. If you want to treat with iron, the product you used is probably not going to be the most effective. In St. Louis, gray birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. The cultivar, 'Whitespire', is best known for its upright form, non-exfoliating white bark, dark green leaves and attractive yellow fall color. Cylindrosporium and Septoria cause small spots with no borders … My name is Ron and my email is rfm73@msn.com. I planted a whitespire birch 6 years ago quite near my lake. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. Whitespire Birch is our only recommended white-barked birch because of its resistance to bronze birch borer and Japanese beetle. Generally the tree can resolve this problem on its own if it is getting sufficient iron in the soil. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. If the infestation is severe, branches and twigs will be dead or dying. 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. This disease results in loss of foliage, and also make the trees prone to infestations by insects. This plant has many benefits including ease of transplant, that it casts light shade, and tolerates heat, wind, deer, and drought. 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. The bright green leaves rustle in the wind and turn the brightest yellow in the fall. However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree. They tend to be brown or reddish in color, and appear as fall approaches and the leaves begin to senesce. Saved by Stuber Land Design. Do you water your trees during the winter? 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. The chalky white bark, fluttery leaves and crisp, clean form are hard to miss. While it's an introduction from Wisconsin, my thought is these trees prefer more moist, acidic soils. As of 2006, the original ‘Whitespire’ tree, then 49 years old, was still free of bronze birch borer (Ed Hasselkus, personal communication). more adaptable to landscape conditions than other white birches. It is important to water the tree separately from the lawn to make sure it receives enough water. White birch trees have soft, susceptible interior wood. All Rights Reserved. When To Prune Birch Trees. In the cases of serious infection, the leaves may turn bright yellow or greenish-yellow all over. The ideal spot is the north or east side of a building, where the tree will receive full sun in the morning and some shade during the afternoon. Because birch are shallow-rooted, they prefer a location where the soil remains cool and moist while exposing the canopy to ample sunlight (about 6 hours daily). Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are 'bleeders' and will lose a great deal of sap. If you note shelf fungus or other fungi growing on the sides of your white birch tree, then it is best to remove the tree entirely to prevent the fungus from moving from one tree to another and killing them all. Is it getting more water? There are young saplings coming up in … A medium sized tree tolerant of hot, dry summers and poor soils. Fungal diseases from various pathogens cause leaf spots, blotches and blisters on birch trees. Some trees may be 5 - 8 years old before the bark begins to whiten. Add to Any Collection My Collection. Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are bleeders (will lose quantities of sap). Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. Birch trees are susceptible to a type of fungal disease called anthracnose, which is characterized by brown spots or patches with irregular margins, on the leaves. It also tolerates poor soils. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. Our Colorado soils are heavy, tend to have an alkaline pH (above 7.0) and we usually have periods of drought during the season. Vegetatively propagated plants of … The Whitespire Birch displays chalk-white bark that does not exfoliate. If there is no rain, the tree should be watered every two weeks during the summer. 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, … Birch trees are loved for their graceful foliage and attractive bark characteristics. Many other birches are used in landscaping. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, algae lichen on white birch tree michigan nature image by Paul Retherford from. Whitespire Birch is a deciduous tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. The first summer it just sat there, but looked healthy. Add to Collection. He is the ornamental landscape Extension specialist and runs the arboretum on campus. Watering the lawn may not be enough because the grass may use most of the moisture. However, these trees are notoriously short-lived and tend to start "declining" after reaching about 40 or 50 feet in height. Birch trees have wide-spreading crowns that make them good shade trees. It seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range. > Deciduous Trees > Birch > Leaves wilt and turn yellow or brown. Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? It has a wonderful yellow fall color. At nurseries/garden centers, they will sell two types...one with EDTA and one with EDDHA. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. 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. It has a wonderful yellow fall color. 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. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, prune during the dormant season. A white-barked birch, tolerant of high temps. Substantial white birch roots fill the area around the tree and probe cracks in barriers, including concrete. However, since white birch trees are susceptible to fungal infections, you must control even seemingly insignificant problems immediately. Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. I used a deep root feeder and treated it using Ross Root Feeder - Green Again for Yellow Leaf sickness - Iron Plus 5-35-10. Whitespire birch do have some resistance to bronze birch borer, which is another common problem for birch ( see links about birch below). The latter is far more expensive, but works better in our alkaline soils. looked at a whitespire birch today that is dropping leaves like crazy. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! The slightest wound in the tree opens it up to infection and can ultimately destroy the entire tree. 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. White birch trees are popular ornamental trees because of their tall, graceful limbs and their beautiful pale bark. Here's more information on fall and winter watering: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html I would not fertilize it again; just regular water. However, if you note serious, dramatic, early leaf fall then you may need to provide more help in the form of a micronutrient fertilizer. 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. 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. Perform… Keeping a Fantastic Birch Bark A great tree to give a natural look to the landscape. Nonetheless, you need to take the necessary measures to keep them healthy. In the St. Louis area, it is best sited in a northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. Tall and stately, Whitespire's showy bark does not exfoliate or pee l. We lost a weeping birch last year to the pest, broke our hearts. 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 Explore. If you want to keep your white birch tree healthy, keep a close eye on it so that you can avert diseases and infections before they ever have a chance to take hold of the tree. 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. Resistant to the bronze birch borer. Not too deep? If you notice only a few leaves with leaf spots, then you can simply remove the leaves and dispose of them in a garbage bag rather than dropping them on the ground. 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. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. The link below provides general information about Japanese beetles but also includes a brief list of plants favored by … A Whitespire birch "standard" is where there is only one trunk on the tree… Best planted in spring. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7. Japanese beetle is also a serious problem on this tree. Chlorosis means "leaf yellowing." It may take five years for the bark to color well. Glossy dark green foliage in spring, turning yellow in the fall. Adequate amounts of water are necessary to keep birch trees healthy and prevent dieback. Bronze Birch Borer. ‘Whitespire’ bark is not white when the trees are young. Unfortunately, so does a tiny insect that causes big problems. He's planted several Whitespire birch and says that they've only lived for about 5-8 years in the arboretum (which tends to be an ideal location for trees to grow). 1 of 7. During the winter, the insect is a dormant grub waiting under the bark. Last summer was one of the hottest and driest on record and we had an exceptionally dry fall and winter. People love their chalky white birch trees. Add to Cart Wishlist . My problem is one of the trees I believe went into early Hibernation, it lost all of its leaves, 3 to 4 weeks before the other two trees last fall. And yes, it is very restistent to the birch borer. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html. I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Considered to have a short life span. ‘Whitespire’ appears to have some resistance to borers and leafminers. Hi Ron,I spoke with Dr. Jim Klett yesterday about your tree species. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. Fertilizing the tree with a high-iron fertilizer will usually help the tree fend off the problem. Consider all of these things as well. Skip to main content. They come in different species and varieties, giving you an opportunity to choose the type of tree that suits your landscape. It's so beautiful I want to propagate more trees from the clump. Bloom Time: Mar-Apr. Weakened birches, including those stressed by summer heat and humidity, become more vulnerable to the bronze birch borer which infects and kills trees. It is now 20 feet tall, an absolutely magnificent clumb of white trunks. If you note shelf fungus or other fungi growing on the sides of your white birch tree, then it is best to remove the tree entirely to prevent the fungus from moving from one tree to another and killing them all. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape. The loss of the leaves early in the fall is a sign of stress. I would hate to loose this tree and would like to know if you have any suggestion on how I can save it? Better yet, give this tree proper TLC. The cultivar name Whitespire was applied to a vegetatively propagated clone of the original Wisconsin tree, this tree had not succumbed to bronze birch borer whereas many of the surrounding birch trees at this site had. I used a deep root feeder and treated it using Ross Root Feeder - Green Again for Yellow Leaf sickness - Iron Plus 5-35-10. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. If you note shelf fungus or other fungi growing on the sides of your white birch tree, … Disease, pests, and problems Leaf miners and cankers are possible. This tree also features interesting catkins which grace the tree in the summer. My problem is one of the trees I believe went into early Hibernation, it lost all of its leaves, 3 to 4 weeks before the other two trees last fall. Thanks for you help. Disease, pests, and problems Use of this tree is limited by its susceptibility to bronze birch borer. Cultivar 'Whitespire' more desirable than the species. Birch > Leaves > Leaves wilt and turn yellow or brown. Leaf Color: Green. This pest destroys white-barked birches, particularly the European white birch in the Midwest and Eastern United States. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees. The slightest wound in the tree opens it up to infection and can ultimately destroy the entire tree. Bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius. Birches do not transplant easily. Keep in mind, however, that while some trees suffer more damage from Japanese beetles than others, most trees can tolerate some defoliation as a result. White birch trees have soft, susceptible interior wood. Amazon.com : Whitespire Birch : Garden & Outdoor. Another thing to consider is the cultural conditions of the clump that is not doing well...is it planted properly? 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). Water it regularly, even in the summer, and especially during fall and winter. However, the first indications of chlorosis are simply the veins of the leaf yellowing while the body remains green. You'll want to buy a product that contains EDDHA iron. A grove of Whitespires in the backyard, on the other hand, will make for a magical get-away space. It will self-seed and form an attractive stand of trees. Leaf spots are small, isolated areas of the leaves that have been infected by fungi. 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