Problems of River Birch

Problems of River Birch
Symptoms Probable Causes
Tree branches break Winter Damage
Tree dies suddenly Old Age
Leaves scorch; turn tan; dry appearance Leaf Scorch
Leaves curled and distorted Aphids
Black powdery sooty mold fungus forms on honeydew; branches may die if problem continues Ants Herding Aphids For Their Honeydew
Small holes in bark and stems surrounded by sawdust Bronze Birch Borer
Tip of leaves brown, internal larvae trails visible. Sometimes leaves skeletonized and rolled up Birch Leafminers
   
   
Leaves stippled, yellowing or bronze; dry out and (drop)may be webbing visible; sometimes galls form on leaves Seed Mites
Branches encrusted with small bumps Scale
Water-soaked lesions on branches Canker, A Bacterial Disease
(Continued)  
Upper branches dead Dieback, A Fungal Disease
Shelf-like growths on trunks Wood Rot, A Bacterial Disease
Leaves blistered and curled up Leaf Blister, A Fungal Disease
Leaves spotted; turn brown Leaf Spot, A Fungal Disease
Leaves have powdery spots Rust, A Fungal Disease
On young trees foliage looks burned Dog Urine
Bark of stems and roots gnawed Mice or Voles
When young portions of foliage disappear, or young tips disappear, bark peeled in strips Deer