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Birch

Birch, probably attacked by wood borers

Hello and Happy New Year!
I have read some similar situations on the forum and your advice for each. I have a Young’s Weeping Birch planted 4 years ago. It has grown normally for an urban area, being placed in full sun (9-10 hours, spring-autumn) and supplied with the necessary quantities of water. In the autumn of 2022 I noticed the bark breaking along a 2-3 cm portion in the middle of the trunk, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. After the blizzard in early December ’23, the trunk bent a little in the middle, I anchored it and only then noticed the large wound that had occurred exactly in the area from which the trunk’s originally bent. Some time later but, I hope, not too late, I have found the time to look you up and find the causes and remedies you suggest. I have attached some pictures in which I hope you will get enough information, with the mention that in the lower part of the wound I have also identified 3 small holes – hence my assumption that it could be a wood borer (!?). My first question is if I can do something during these cold days, especially as frost is forecast from January 15th. Please, tell me the possible illness/pest, the treatment (if it is different from what I have read) and the period when I can apply it.
Thank you very much.

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#196162

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Hello. As the wound appears to be older, it is not possible to say what caused the damage – it could be a mechanical wound, an attack by pests or even a fungal or bacterial disease (the exact diagnosis can only be determined by a laboratory analysis).
If you wish, you can check if any larvae are present inside. It is recommended that you use a flexible steel wire (make a small loop at the tip), which is inserted into the tunnel, to try to remove the larva to the outside ( the tunnels can be up to 0.5 m long). After removing it, it is advisable to clean the dry bark thoroughly with a clean, disinfected tool (it is important to clean the dead plant tissue to stimulate the formation of new plant tissue), then disinfect it with a copper-containing solution such as Bouillie Bordelaise WDG, 50 g, in a dose of 20 g in a liter of water. After disinfecting thoroughly with the blue solution, close the wound with a healing agent such as Tree plaster, 300 g or mastic (Bio Plantella Arbosan, 350 g) or Healing Spray Spruhfix, 100 ml. You can also consider applying a protective solution such as Protekt Bio Plantella, 1.5 kg. It is important to seal the hole, otherwise the tunnel dug by the larvae will become a shelter for other pests during winter. The operation is recommended to be carried out on a day with positive temperatures (preferably above 5°C), without precipitation or strong wind.
Also, to improve the quality of the soil and revitalize the roots, you can consider removing the decorative stones around the trunk, lightly loosening the topsoil around the birch tree and applying a fertilizer such as Soil Activator Manna Bio Bodenaktivator, 5 kg (by spreading and incorporating it into the topsoil – only one application during this period, as recommended in the product description).
Given the current appearance of the stem (most likely the sap is only circulating on one side of the trunk), it is not possible to predict the future development of the birch. In case you notice any other symptoms, we are waiting for your message with photos.

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#196168

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Good evening.
Thank you very much for your quick reply. Yes, I think the wound is at least a year and a half old. You have given me the information I needed, especially about temperature and other climatic conditions. I have no decorative stones around the stem, what you can see in the pictures is a small rectangular decorative area but it is at least 50 cm from the stem, and I lightly till the soil every spring. As soon as the weather allows, I will proceed as you advised. I will let you know the results. Once again, thank you!

#196167

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