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Top half of tree dead, bottom half alive

11 years ago

Please see attached photo of this tree which appears to be dead towards the top, but still ok towards the bottom half. There are some dark colored holes on the trunk where the bark tends to peel off. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Featured Answer

acer

11 years ago

Some kind of white birch, which are beautiful trees but they have lots of problems. Even in the best conditions they're short-lived compared to many other species. Where are you located? That looks like a pretty warm, dry environment for white birch, which like cool, moist soil. White birches are almost always killed off by the bronze birch borer (insects) after a few years, too. I think the top is completely dead and it will spread down through thre whole tree in a season or two. I recommend that you just remove the whole thing now and replace it with something better suited to your area. Sorry, I wish I could share better news.

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Comments (10)

elbow
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi,

IÃ¯Â¿Â½m located in Spain, in the Pyrenees... do you think it might help if I cut the top that appears to be dead?
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i mail ordered half of my 5 acres ... thats not the issue ... presuming you used a good source ... is it on the north side of the black top ... without snow cover ... and constant cold.. winter sun on blacktop ... can make a plant go in and out of dormancy ... and that is extremely bad ... get it dormant.. keep it dormant ... if my theory is supported ... on sunny winter days.. the top of the tree was warming too much.. too often.. when the tree was supposed to be dormant ... even if the top half is dead ... the rest.. if the roots settle in .. being a maple.; could take off like no tomorrow ... its not a goner.. unless your personality dictate it will drive you insane.. lol .. if so.. get rid of it ... in adrian MI .. the trees are barely leafing out.. i know metro detroit is ahead of us ... but you are way to anxious to come to any conclusions as to how they are doing... give them both at least a month or 2 before you come to any conclusions ... i am not aware of any soil issue in SE MI .... ken
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Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
11 years ago
Typical response of Birch to either drought or borers. In severe drought, they abort the upper branches (virtually every Betula in Edmonton, Canada did this after 8 dry summers). In warmer, wetter climates, borers will do the same thing.
wisconsitom
11 years ago
All of which is why I prize the numerous paper birches growing vigorously on my land. That's birch country up yonder.

+om
texasredhead
11 years ago
You do not show the trunk in the ground. The single problem that kills most trees is having them planted too deeply. Can you see the root flare of this tree?
wisconsitom
11 years ago
True, redhead, too-deep planting is a huge and hugely common problem. But when it comes to white barked birches, bronze birch borer is nearly always the cause of what we see in this picture. And BBB does love to pick on birch that are under stress of some kind, so if the tree was, for example, planted too deeply, that could predispose it to this probable attack. More commonly, excess heat and drought are the problems.

+oM
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
11 years ago
Most likely borers and it will likely end up killing the tree. If you cut off the top make sure you get rid of the wood (and be prepared to look at an unsightly beheaded tree), if you feel brave cut the tree down this fall and it will probably send up new sprouts next spring to regrow a nice clump of birches. Just keep in mind they will also be susceptible to borers some years down the line.
texasredhead
11 years ago
Did anyone notice the OP lives in Spain?
wisconsitom
11 years ago
Good point, Red. I wonder now, is BBB active or present in Spain? I know it's a N. American native insect. Anyone know if BBB or for that matter, another borer that attacks birch, is present in S. Europe?

+om
DavetheArborist
11 years ago
Wow are those yuccas in the background? I am sure these two species should never be together. Lol!Look for D-shaped holes in trunk or stems to indicate exit holes of Agrilus anxius. Rip off any loose peeling bark and see if there are any squigly little galleries. If larvae are tunneling an indicator is raised lines in the trunk. Test the stems up top and see if they are living or dead. Use a pocket knife to scrape off the bark if its green its living brown dead or just break a twig if it snaps its dead. Sometimes trees lose leaves early only dead is dead. Remember trees in winter have no leaves but they are alive.

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