Like all plants, birches can get sick. The trees, which are generally very resilient, are particularly susceptible to some ailments. Making the correct diagnosis will help you treat the birch appropriately and take the appropriate measures.
How do I recognize a sick birch tree?
To identify a diseased birch tree, look for yellow leaves, wilting leaves and flowers, and black discharge on the trunk. The appropriate measures can include site improvements, removing infested areas or consulting experts.
Typical problems with birch trees
If you recognize a sick birch tree, it does not immediately mean that you have to resort to aggressive chemical treatments or even that it should be felled. Rather, the tree has the ability to regulate itself. The birch trees are often plagued by pests such as aphids and fringe beetles. In addition, the birch is quite often affected by fungal infections. However, this only means you have to resort to pesticides in severe cases. Just keep an eye on the tree.
Recognize classic symptoms
The fact that a birch tree is not completely he althy can be recognized by its typical external characteristics. Here are the most common ones:
- Yellow leaves indicate less a disease than a bad location. The tree may be lacking light or nutrients.
- Wilting leaves and flowers, on the other hand, can indicate that the birch is struggling with one of the common diseases such as mildew, rust or anthracnose. In this case, you can intervene helpfully by simply cutting out the affected areas.
- Black discharge on the trunk and a corresponding crust are among the more serious signs of declining vitality of the tree. If the crown also loses vitality, action is needed: If there are black spots, if possible, optimize the location conditions of the birch so that the tree finds new energy to heal itself. Also, stay alert if the weakened tree becomes a safety hazard and threatens to fall or shed branches.
Improve location
Of course the birch tree cannot simply change its location to get relief. However, you could check whether more light can be obtained - for example by trimming surrounding trees or removing other obstacles. Also check whether the floor is too dry, then you can help manually.
Consult experts
If the birch tree shows other unexplained symptoms, it may be advisable to consult an expert. It is best to have an appropriate tree inspection initiated by the responsible parks department. In the case of serious illnesses, the experts know when felling becomes unavoidable and are qualified to carry it out professionally.
