BIRCH BLISTER

[GAV64]

HERE ON MY PROPERTY IN CONNECTICUT MOST ALL OF THE BLACK BIRCH TREES SEEM TO FORM A BLISTER OR CANKER TYPE WOUND. IT SEEMS TO AFFECT THE 6" OR LESS TREES, BUT NOW I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE IT IN SOME OF THE LARGER TREES 12" AND UP. IT IS EXTREMELY KNARLY, WON'T GO THROUGH THE SPLITTER. IS THIS DISEASE SPREAD BY THE AIR, SHOULD I CUT DOWN ALL THE AFFECTED TREES. I AM AFRAID BY THE TIME THIS IS DONE I WON'T HAVE ANY BLACK BIRCH LEFT. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE TRIED TURNING A BLISTER CHUNK, THE SWIRLING GRAIN PROBABLY IS AWESOME, LIKE A BURL. HELP ME ....GLENN.

[SwampDonkey]

Black birch or as some call it in Canada, cherry birch are suspectible to 'target' canker as are other birch and aspen species. Sites in my area most susceptible are dry, shaley shallow soils on hillsides and ridges. These sites have usually been severly burned. Even aspen on these sites are severly infected with target canker. I'm no expert on this , but I suspect that when fire destroys the organic matter of the upper soil horizon it has the greatest effect. It will probably help by harvesting the infected trees from the site. See if you can find info on the life cycle of the disease and there may be some clues as how to manage it.

Here is one link:

http://www.glfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/treedisease/nectria_canker_of_hardwoods_e.html

[Ron Scott]

Contact your local Extension Service or Conservation District Forester. They can check it out for you and provide you with specifics of what the disease/insect is and what control measures are needed if any.