We've noticed quite a few Birch trees around Seattle beginning to die.
Often the top of the tree will dye first, and before you know it, the
whole tree looks like it's in decline.
The major culprit: Bronze Birch Borer
Prevention:
- deeply water your Birches once per month in dry weather
- mulch around the roots
- have a professional drench the roots with a pesticide once a year
If your Birch tree shows 30%+ dead, it is unlikely to recover and should be removed.
To read all about this bronze birch borer, check out this well-researched article by Kim Pokorny of The Oregonian: Birch trees losing ground
