Chemical treatments, pruning, fertilization and watering are the keys to preventing and treating birch tree diseases. Since the trees are susceptible to fungal disease and borer and other insect infestations, close monitoring is a must.
In the spring, a preventive copper or sulfur fungicidal spray helps keep diseases from gaining a stronghold. Broken, dead and diseased branches must be removed immediately to prevent insect and fungal infections from spreading. Chemical pesticides may not always be effective, so leaves with splotches or discoloration must also be removed. Since stressed trees succumb to disease more readily than healthy trees, regular watering and fertilization is required.
