Atwood LawnCare

Birch trees provide a beautiful focalpoint in many landscapes. However, since these specimen trees are not naturally grown in SE Michigan, they may encounter unique problems that need monitoring. Here are two and the answer to their care.

Birch Leaf Miner
WHAT YOU’LL SEE... is that the leaves on your Birch Tree are turning brown. Upon closer inspection, you will see that a small worm is eating out the inside of the leaf. Some leaf drop may occur. It is not uncommon for there to be two to three generations of this pest each season.
THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM... is the larvae of a sawfly insect known as the Birch Leaf Miner. The adults deposit eggs in the mid-spring season which hatch in 7-10 days. After feeding on the Birch leaves for about 10-15 days, the larvae will cut a hole in the leaf surface and drop to the ground, pupate into the adult sawfly, and the life cycle begins again.
THE BEST WAYS TO CONTROL THIS PROBLEM... are to keep the tree growing vigorously with proper fertilization and adequate water in the summer. A Birch tree that is not healthy and growing will not be able to withstand repeated generations of Leaf Miner for very long.
OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU... include applications of a systemic insecticide at appropriate intervals. While it is best to try and catch the larvae before they move into the leaf, using a professional systemic product can get good control even the larvae has begun to feed. And if the larvae are controlled, then the life cycle is stopped before any further damage can occur. Without a preventive program, nearly all Birch trees will experience some level of damage.

Bronze Birch Borer
WHAT YOU’LL SEE... is the top portion of the tree is dying or has died. Unfortunately, by the time most people notice a problem, most of the damage as been done.
THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM... is the larvae of a beetle known as the Bronze Birch Borer. The larvae enter the trunk of tree and tunnel through the soft wood of the tree in a zig zag pattern. This disrupts the water and nutrient vascular system of the tree. When the tree cannot get water and nutrients to a branch, it will die.
THE BEST WAYS TO CONTROL THIS PROBLEM... is to prune out the damaged branches all the way back to where tunneling can be observed. Once the vascular system has been damaged, it rarely will recover. Proper fertilization and adequate watering are critical to keeping the plant healthy and growing.
OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU... include regular applications of a professional strength insecticide. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may be recommended that your tree receive applications that are injected directly into the trunk of the tree. This allows the material to go right where the pest is feeding and achieve maximum control.

Call our office at 1-800-289-6635 to have your Birch tree inspected before damage occurs.