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Gardeners’ Forum: “Weeping Birch”

• Weeping Birch

  Posted by Betty Mesher on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 5:13 PM ADT

  I would like some help trying to solve a problem I had for the past five years. I brought a weeping birch and it refuses to grow any taller than six feet. To my knowledge it is not a dwarf tree. It is spread out quite far and the leaves fill in quite nicely every year, but the trunk is split up through and it does not seem to want to grow up. Any suggestions as to what the problem is would be much appreciated. Thanks

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by lorry on Saturday, May 2, 2009 3:57 PM ADT

    interesting i have the same problem with the trunk - it's split up through and would also like to know how to treat it?

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by Jillian Bell on Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:05 PM ADT

    My weeping birch appears to be dying from the top down. The highest branches don't have any leaves on them. Is the tree doomed or is there something I can do?

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by Brent Scheer on Sunday, July 12, 2009 5:45 PM ADT

    My weeping birch has a split also, but is about 30 feet tall. The problem I have been having with this tree is this: the tree seems to be extruding some form of sap or juice through the leaves. The leaves turn brom usually by the middle to end of july and fall off. This has been happening for about 4 years now. This year the sap or jiuce is killing my grass and makes a terrible mess on the driveway and my wifes car. Anybody know anthing about this?

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by Nancy Beamish on Friday, July 24, 2009 10:13 PM ADT

    I have the same problem as Brent with sap all over the leaves & grass, etc. beneath the tree--I would like to know what this is and how to deal with it.

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by John Gibson on Sunday, April 10, 2011 4:35 PM ADT

    this last winter when the temp was down around -25c i noticed a split running from the ground up about 15ft. Now that the weather has warmed up the split has closed up. Is this normal. The tree apears to healthy.

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by John Gibson on Monday, April 11, 2011 3:02 PM ADT

    The sap problem might be from aphids. shake some of the branches if a lot of very small bugs fly off they are most liky aphids. Little green bugs cure for these is spray, introducing a solution in to the ground very so many feet or lady bugs.

  • re: Weeping Birch

    Posted by Brian T on Monday, April 11, 2011 9:20 PM ADT

    I know these problems started almost 3 years ago but maybe they are not resolved. Lack of growth probably relates to dryness. Birch like to have their feet damp and that is why they border streams in their natural state. They usually dry out from the top down. Try giving lots of water, especially if you are in a drought situation and especially on August and September.