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Silver Birch holes

fivegoodwinsfivegoodwins Posts: 2
in Problem solving

Good Afternoon.  We have 5 silver birches jacquemontii, planted within about 8 feet of each other in a cricle.  One of them has recently had some nasty looking holes appear in the trunk, fairly close to the ground (picture attached).  Are you able to advise what might have caused it (borer beetle, fungal infection, woodpecker)?  And can it can be treated, or should we cut it down and get rid of it as soon as possible to avoid contamination to the other trees?


Posts

  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    @fivegoodwins Welcome to the forum. :)  Your thread has slipped through without a response so I am bumping it up for you. There may not have been anyone around at the time you posted to give an answer. Let's hope someone will pick up on it now for you. As it is your first post I wouldn't like you to think badly of the forum. I have a silver birch myself but fortunately don't have anything like that in your photo. Here's hoping it's not as bad as you think. 

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    With beetles, you may see wood dust near the area. If it is not oozing anything from the area, it may be some sort of damage from something. Either way, you should just leave it be.

    There is no known treatment for this if it is the main trunk area. Keep an eye on it. I don't think removal at this stage. There are many trees that heal over and recover. It all forms part of the character of the tree. However, if it grows, you may need to consider removing the tree as it may be weakened to the point of falling over.
  • fivegoodwinsfivegoodwins Posts: 2
    Thanks very much Fran and Borderline!  There is very little dust around the holes so hopefully this is woodpecker damage.  You've given me the confidence to leave it and see what happens - thanks for responding.
  • Chris314Chris314 Posts: 51
    I had a big Birch tree go that way this year - it had been there quite healthy for more than 20 years and suddenly started to go rotten and drop branches.
    The expert said once they start rotting there's no saving them, so it had to come down (I left a 5 foot stump to grow a clematis up).
    I've also had a holly (6 foot tall) and other shrubs suddenly drop all their leaves and die this year. I'm pretty sure that's due to the prolonged dry weather we've had in this area.
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