The royal frost birch tree, with its distinctive white bark and graceful drooping branches, is a beloved and popular landscaping choice. However, these lovely trees can face some problems if not properly cared for. In this article, we’ll explore the most common issues with royal frost birch trees and how to prevent or treat them.
About Royal Frost Birch Trees
Royal frost birch (Betula platyphylla ‘Royal Frost’) is a cultivar of Asian white birch known for its striking white bark with black lenticels (pores). Its branches have an elegant weeping habit. The leaves emerge a rich purple-red color in spring before turning green. In fall, the foliage takes on brilliant yellow hues.
This is a relatively small birch variety, reaching about 30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide at maturity. It has a pyramidal to oval growth habit when young, eventually becoming more rounded with age.
Royal frost birch thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 3-7.
Heat and Humidity Stress
One of the biggest problems for royal frost birch is that it does not tolerate hot and humid summers very well. This cultivar is best suited for cooler climates and starts to struggle once temperatures consistently rise over 85°F. High humidity levels can also cause distress.
Signs of heat stress include
- Scalded, browned leaves
- Premature fall leaf drop
- Lackluster foliage
- Dieback of branches
- Increased susceptibility to pests and diseases
To help prevent heat stress:
- Provide ample mulch around the tree to help the roots stay cool
- Water deeply once or twice a week during hot, dry periods
- Consider providing shade with a lightweight shade cloth or planting near a north-facing wall
Bronze Birch Borer
The bronze birch borer is one of the most devastating pests for birches. These small metallic beetles lay eggs in crevices of the bark. When the larvae hatch, they burrow tunnels underneath the bark, effectively girdling the tree.
Trees already weakened by environmental stress like drought or heat are most vulnerable to borer attack. Warning signs include:
- D-shaped exit holes in the bark
- Cracked, peeling bark
- Dieback starting in the upper crown
To prevent borers:
- Keep trees healthy with regular watering and mulch
- Avoid wounding the bark unnecessarily through pruning, mowing, etc.
- Apply preventative insecticide treatments starting in early spring
- Wrap the trunk with burlap in summer to create a physical barrier
Other Pests
A few other pests to watch for include:
Aphids – These tiny sap-sucking insects cluster on the undersides of leaves, causing them to curl and deform. Heavy infestations can stunt growth. Blast them off the leaves with water or use insecticidal soap sprays.
Leaf miner – The larvae of these flies feed inside the leaf, creating winding tunnels. This is mostly an aesthetic concern. Pick off and destroy affected leaves.
Birch skeletonizer – The caterpillars of this moth chew irregular holes in birch leaves. They skeletonize the foliage but rarely cause major harm. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticide can control them. Hand pick off caterpillars when possible.
Other Care Tips
Here are a few other things to keep in mind when growing royal frost birch:
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Avoid letting the tree become pot-bound if planting a container grown specimen. Tease out any circling roots before planting in the ground.
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Water young trees regularly until their root system is well established. Even mature trees need supplemental water during drought.
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Mulch annually with 2-3 inches of organic material like shredded bark to retain soil moisture and reduce competition from weeds and grass. Pull mulch back from the trunk.
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Prune mainly for structure and to remove dead or damaged branches. Avoid heavy pruning that leaves large open wounds.
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Fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer or compost to support new growth.
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Consider preventative treatments starting at an early age to protect against borers and other pests.
Dealing with Leafing Issues
Sometimes only one side of a royal frost birch may leaf out, with the other side remaining bare. This is due to winter injury or some other stress that damaged the buds and shoots on that side. It does not necessarily mean the tree is dying.
Here’s what to do:
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Continue caring for the tree normally and evaluate whether the affected side eventually revives later in summer. Give it some time.
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Prune out any completely dead branches showing no signs of life. Cut back to where live growth occurs.
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Monitor for pests like borers that may attack struggling or stressed trees.
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As long as part of the tree is healthy and leafing out, it still has a chance to recover. But the damaged side may remain thinner and lopsided.
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Fertilize lightly to support regrowth. But avoid over-fertilizing stressed trees.
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Maintain proper watering, mulching, and care to get the tree as healthy as possible. This gives it the best shot at re-foliating the affected side.
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Be patient. It can take years for a birch to fully recover from damage. As long as some buds are sprouting, hope remains. Remove only completely dead wood.
When to Remove a Royal Frost Birch
If more than half of the tree has remained completely leafless and dead for over a year, it may be time to consider removal. A certified arborist can help evaluate if the tree still has potential to recover or if decline is irreversible.
Signs it may be time to remove a royal frost birch:
- No live buds or leaf sprouts after 2 years
- Extensive dieback across the whole crown
- Severe borer damage covering over 50% of the trunk
- Bark coming off in large sheets rather than just flaking or peeling
- Mushrooms growing from root flares or bark wounds
- Leaning severely to one side, becoming a safety hazard
Take proactive steps to keep your royal frost birch healthy. But if problems develop, don’t give up too soon. These birches can surprise you with their resilience if given proper care. With patience and persistence, you may be rewarded by your struggling tree springing back to its former glory.
Birch Tree Problems Dead and Dying Branches!
FAQ
What are the cons of a birch tree?
How do I tell if my birch tree is dying?
How fast do royal frost birch trees grow?
When to prune royal frost birch?
What is Royal Frost Birch?
The Royal Frost Birch (Betula x ‘Royal Frost’) is a tree known for its stunning appearance. It boasts an upright, pyramidal shape and displays burgundy-red to plum purple foliage that transforms into a captivating yellow-orange to red coloration during fall.
Is Royal Frost Birch resistant to birch borers?
Royal Frost Birch has the upright habit of Whitespire Birch and the red leaves of Crimson Frost Birch. It is not resistant to birch borers. Proper placement in the landscape to reduce stress is important for this variety of birch. There is no weepiness that Crimson Frost was known for. The plant is vigorous with deep red-purple leaves and white bark.
What does a royal Frost birch tree look like?
Growing quickly, Royal Frost birch reaches a mature height of 40 to 45 feet and a canopy spread up to 20 feet. This winter deciduous tree attains an upright, pyramidal shape with white exfoliating bark and deep burgundy foliage that emerges in spring, remains blackish purple across summer and changes to deep red in autumn.
How to care for a Royal Frost birch tree?
To keep your Royal Frost Birch tree healthy and stress-free, mulch the root zone with 3-4 inches of mulch and water it during the dry spells by dropping a hose under the plant.
What is a Crimson Frost Birch?
Thanks to the Crimson Frost birch it displays attractive burgundy-red foliage. The Royal Frost birch (Betula “Royal Frost”) bears reddened leaves that strikingly contrast the peeling white bark and grows pest- and disease-free.
What does Royal Frost look like?
‘Royal Frost’ is an upright pyramidal birch featuring burgundy-red to purple foliage, showy yellow-orange to red fall color and attractive white bark. It typically matures over time to 30-40′ tall and to 15-20′ wide. It is the result of a cross between Betula populifolia ‘Whitespire’ (white bark) and Betula ‘Crimson Frost’ (purple foliage).