Me again, Is there any treatment for anthracnose (Discula betulina) in Paper Birch? ~10% of the foliage affected, no defoliation to date and otherwise unremarkable.

Reply to post by Dan, on July 13, 2002 at 08:23:14:

This is seldom a debilitating disease of the birch. It is common in some areas to see it almost annually, and usually with little or no defoliation at all. Since it is limited to the foliage most of the time, it causes no long term damage. Control measures are seldom recommended.

In some years, when environmental conditions are ideal for the fungus, it can cause major defoliation. This is usually not deadly to the tree, and they often recover if they are in good health otherwise. there is little that can be done to prevent infection, except to apply a series of fungicide treatments each spring. Check with your local Cooperative Extension office for further advice on treatments.