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