There is a mature birch tree 50-60ft tall in our front garden that is dying. Today someone from a tree service company knocked on our door and told me that the tree is dead and has been attacked by birch borers. I'm not sure whether to believe him, the tree is definitely dying but is birch borer a common problem in the lower mainland? Should we wait until spring to have the tree removed and see if it bounces back?
The Birch Borer has been an epidemic on the lower mainland for years. Take a look around....normally the top of the tree will die first. The insect leaves a D shaped hole in the bark as it tunnels through the cambium. You'll probably find frass around the hole (sawdust/excrement) You can believe the tree companies assessment. This is a big problem around Vancouver. Designers need to stop using Birches so often, until the problem is under control. Proper irrigation can help to control this insect. Drought stress attracts it. A good regular watering gets the waters and sugars moving in the bark and can make it too wet and undesirable to tunnel through the cambium. This is reported to work for other boring beatles such as those that attacked the pine trees in the interior of B.C.
