Birch Decline

Question:

 We have a beautiful mature birch tree in our front lawn. The problem is that the leaves are starting to turn yellow and sickly. The same thing happened to this tree last year. The tree seemed ok this year until recently. Our other birch tree seems fine. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix it before we lose this tree?

Minnesota Master Gardeners say:

 Your birch could be suffering from shade tree decline or dieback. Birch trees are under story trees and if yours is on an exposed site with a Southern exposure it may be showing stress. The tree can be helped by mulching out to the dripline of the tree and making sure that it gets an inch of water per week. Bronze birch borer could be compounding the problem or causing all the symptoms that you are seeing. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1417.html Bronze Birch Borer and Its Management may help you decide what is happening to your tree.