What's wrong with my silver birch tree?

[Woodworks]

Mrs Woodworks here.

 

My silver birch trees seem to die almost as fast as they grow leaving them poorly shaped. They sprout well then some of the branches die back. I've cut off the offending branches this year in case they infect the rest of the tree.

 

Pictures of the branches and trees below.

 

The trees are about 8 to 10 years old.

 

We planted a hornbeam hedge into the same ground (acid, medium loam) at the same time and it is flourishing.

[StephF]

Have they been flayed by male deer antlers? bark looks damaged

[Woodworks]

Very unlikely Steph. Only ever seen Deer on farm 3 times in 40 years and this is just outside the house.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Woodworks

[Homegrown]

Mrs Woodworks here.

 

My silver birch trees seem to die almost as fast as they grow leaving them poorly shaped. They sprout well then some of the branches die back. I've cut off the offending branches this year in case they infect the rest of the tree.

 

Pictures of the branches and trees below.

 

The trees are about 8 to 10 years old.

 

We planted a hornbeam hedge into the same ground (acid, medium loam) at the same time and it is flourishing.

 

The lesions look a bit like the damage from anthracnose, which can be from a number of fungi, but I didn't think birch was susceptible.

 

If it is I don't think there is a cure but it's not a killer, just the bits beyond any girdling die.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Homegrown

[Woodworks]

Thanks that fits with what we can see.