White Birch problem

[Charles]

Hi Gardeners
I have two quite established European White Birch trees at one side of my house. They are about 35 feet tall and were planted about 4-5 years ago I believe.
Since moving to the property last fall I have noticed that many of the smaller branches are breaking off and falling on the ground. The wood appears dead and snaps easily.
Also, all the other trees in my garden have leaves on them and are very green, but these birches have yet to leaf in most places. One side of one of the trees has leaves as I would expect, but the other branches are bare. There appear to be buds on the brances but they are very small. There are catkins present but they are brown rather than green as I would expect.
Any ideas why they are not blooming yet and what the broken branches are all about?
Thank you!
Charles

[Newt]

Hi Charles,

I'm wondering if most of the twig drop and bare leaves are on the sunnier side of the trees. Also, do you see any holes in the branches, maybe 'D' shaped? I'm thinking the bronze birch borer.
https://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2018.html

Newt

[Charles]

Thanks for the advice Newt.....having looked again at the branches, I can see only one has a hole in it that tunnels about half a centimter and then comes out of the side. It's not so much D-shaped as just round - but it does look like something has been in there.

It is also the sunnier side of the trees that is being affected, and it's the very top branches that are breaking off, which seems to fit with the article you posted.

I have also found tiny black dots of what looks like fungus on the surface of some of the branches that have broken off??? Not mentioned in the article so not sure about that.

Thanks again Newt!

[Newt]

Charles, you are so very welcome! I do think you should continue to search for the causes so you can take the appropriate steps. Unfortunately you weren't in the house last year to see certain insect pests, but maybe some of this will be helpful.

Birch Dieback
https://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h410birchdieback.html

There's more here, scroll down here to Birch.
https://www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/extension/health/insectsanddiseases-hardwoodsbyspecies.html

Birch are sucepaible to leafspots.
https://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/hortcrop/pp697-1.htm#Leafspots
https://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/hortcrop/pp697-2.htm#Birch
https://agebb.missouri.edu/pdc/diagnosticreports/leafspot01.htm

Look at the leaves for any of these symptoms.
Birch skeletonizer
https://www.cfl.scf.rncan.gc.ca/collections-cfl/ficheinsecte_e.asp?id=8184

Ambermarked birch leafminer
https://www.cfl.scf.rncan.gc.ca/collections-cfl/ficheinsecte_e.asp?id=7926

Other birch pests
https://www.cfl.scf.rncan.gc.ca/collections-cfl/hosttrees/deciduous/bir_leave.html

Twig blights and cankers
https://agebb.missouri.edu/pdc/diagnosticreports/blight01.htm
https://agebb.missouri.edu/pdc/trees/birch.htm

Tree decline
https://agebb.missouri.edu/pdc/diagnosticreports/decline01.htm

You might want to hold on to these sites.
https://www.ourgardengang.com/Insect_Problems.htm
https://www.ourgardengang.com/Fungus%20Problems.htm
https://www.ourgardengang.com/good_bugs.htm

Newt

[Charles]

Thanks again Newt....what great research! I will have another closer look and then take some action. Unfortunately, having read many of the links, it seems that one tree in particular is probably beyond help. More investiagtion and time will tell!
You're a star

[Newt]

Charles, you are so very welcome! Can you tell I love trees?

Hope you can save the tree.
Newt