I sure hope you haven't given up on your birches yet! Many birches and aspens are susceptible to borers, which may be causing the trunk damage you describe. Unlike some other gardeners, I'm not inclined to dispose of a tree because it has borers, and thanks to my local (northern colorado)extension office and expertise, have had tremendous success using beneficial nematodes to control borers. I live in Zone 5, Colorado, and applied them to my trees in liquid form when there was a severe infestation of borers three years ago. Beneficial nematodes are not harmful to the environment or humans and are being increasingly used to control pests like borers very effectively. Three years ago, the treatment also saved three of my mature aspens (10" diameter trunks). I'm not predisposed to cutting down a tree at the first sign of borer now that I've had such great success. They're inexpensive, effective, easy to apply. What more could a gardener ask for? Beneficial nematodes can be easily obtained from a number of manufacturers and are live microscopic creatures that are naturally predatory parasites to borers. Borer infestations are easily controlled using beneficial nematodes in one season in my experience. They are sensitive to freezing (but you can refrigerate until you can use them),high temps, and ultraviolet light, so should be applied by early summer at dawn or dusk to trunks and roots, and watered in well (or later at higher altitudes). One can buy them cheaply and apply them in liquid spray form with a standard yard hand sprayer. I happen to even have used my Miracle Gro sprayer. I swear by these lovely (microscopic) creatures, as they saved my beautiful trees! I don't know about the rest of folks, but as a gardener I'm more inclined to save try to my trees than destroy them whenever possible, and particularly in this economy, to preserve the value of my property that mature trees bring--not to mention the value and pleasure they bring to me in their beauty. Below is a link you might find helpful and/or you might try your local ag/extension office. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Beneficial nematodes

Does anyone have a picture of a bathroom vanity (or any countertop) made out of Corian Silver Birch? Thanks. We are doing a white bathroom, with a tile floor which looks like marble, and black faucets, towel racks, etc. Wondering what the Silver Birch will look like, but didn't want to do all white.

Hi, some mornon has come into my back yard and sawn around the trunk of my 30+ silver birch is there anything i can do to save it.

i would use a systemic drench and pray ... check bayer tree and shrub and see if it rated for such ... and it might be tricky to apply to the ground.. since there is a bit of a hill .. i might also talk with your seller.. but you ae past the presumable year warranty ... i think i can barely see healing in there... the cambium layer is just below the bark.. and it is the vascular system of the plant... moving water up.. and storing energy down.. that your canopy has had problems.. means the cambium has probably been seriously compromised ... so im not holding out a lot of hope for the future ... and i dont want to recommend you go removing more bark to find out ... if you are willing to invest.. treat the tree with a systemic for borers ... and as noted above... pray ... i also cant see the root flare... that isnt helping... and as with all drip irrigation.. i wonder if water is getting down thru the whole root zone with a recent tree transplant ... ken