I noticed this trees crown was bicolored and on closer inspection the trunk had no "flare" as it entered the ground. These were tell-tale signs of a tree being deprived of water and nutrients. The culprit was a girdling root that was "choking" the tree by restricting the movement of sap throughout the tree. We had to carefully excavate the root and remove an approximate 6" section of it (so it wouldn't reconnect}, At this point the tree can now grow in circumference and will push the remaining root sections out. A fertilization is sometimes needed to encourage accelerated growth.
Birch trees are wonderful to look at, especially in the winter. The river birch with an abundance of peeling bark is more resistant to insects than the more common white birch. I came across this white birch tree with evidence of bronze birch borer damage. Notice the exit holes. Proper cultural care and if required, a well timed pesticide application can control this pest.
