I don't know. You'll have to ask around in your area. I lost a birch tree
to the same thing, but not that far north. I replanted with a different
tree, but I found out later some varieties of birch are resistant.

"Captain Ron" wrote in message
...
I live in the upper midwest. Very cold winters, are they prominant in
these
areas?

"RoyDMercer" wrote in message
...
"Captain Ron" wrote in message
...
I have a spot in my back yard which has a white birch tree. The lower
portion of the tree is starting to grow leaves, but the upper portion
has
none. Does this mean the tree is dying? Is there anything I can to
save
the
tree? It is a young tree (about 10' tall) and in a area which has a
good
ammount of moisture.

Your tree is almost certainly infected with an insect called the bronze
birch borer. You can apply insecticide to kill the insects and their
larva,
but you may be too late if significant damage has occurred. If you have
to
replant, and you're partial to birch, look for a variety that is
resistant
to the insect.