Speaking of trees

Saskatchewan has lost most of it's majestic Weeping Birch Trees. Noticed them dying off in North Battleford first, about 12-14 years ago. Not sure about Saskatoon but I know Regina's have been hit hard and Moose Jaw's were decimated...don't think there is more than 5 that may still be alive here in town. Has anyone else noticed that they are dying off elsewhere?

Some here say it was the neverending drought, others the birch boorer but most didn't show signs of it. People that even deep watered obsessively also lost theirs.

My grandmother in Stoon had a couple of big weeping birches in her front yard, and they died several years ago - first one, then the other. I never knew why.

Looks like the problems only in Saskatchewan Shannon. Like your grandmother my parents had 3 big weeping birch trees in their yard......dad was an obsessive waterer of them and all three succumbed very quickly. At the bottom of our street the high school had six huge ones.......all were removed this summer. :(

I think they have the problem in Manitoba also. I have seen some information on it here too. I only have paper birch on my property.

Was curious about that echoes......thought it strange that it could only be happening here. There must have been a chemical that people used to use to protect the trees and now is illegal?

From what I remember, (keep in mind remember is running on low batteries) the problem usually starts from past stresses for the tree. Lack of moisture and leaf miner, sometimes together, because leafminer is attracted to stressed trees. Then along comes the borer. In a few years it's all over for the tree. Think cutting the tree at the wrong time of year attracts the insect pests. Sorry, don't remember what insecticides are available, but one of them for the borer was sprayed on the ground in the spring when the bugs/worms are coming out of the ground. The leaf miners are not as serious a problem in a healthy tree and only need to be sprayed if they do a lot of damage. But a couple of years of them can begin the stress that starts the process. I think there is a time to spray for these too, to interupt the life cycle overwintering thing. If you do a google on 'birch leaf miner, borer' you will find some useful info. I probably only got some of it right.

I recall having and treating a birch tree for Leaf miner when we lived in Edmonton. Don't know if it worked 'cause we moved shortly after. Sure did make a mess of one of my beautiful birch trees that summer. tsk, tsk

But, if what you are saying is the problem for the Weeping Birch dying out in Sask and MB, why wouldn't this be affecting all of the Birch trees, not just Weeping.

It does. Some are more reistant than others.