My white birch tree is growing big brown mushrooms on the trunk Half the tree is dying. Okay, is there any hope for it. We had a very hot summer and I am afraid it doesn't look good. Who do I call? If they cut it down, what tree can I replace it with that can withstand the hot summers and shade my front window. Thanks

An Arborist is your best choice for expert advice - that includes the white birch and what is best suited for a specific location (based on soil, what direction it faces, other info).

Our birches all died of birch borer. Look for holes in the trunk. They can riddle a tree so full of holes that you can push it over and it will fall down in pieces. There are resistant strains of birch but they aren't as pretty bark.

Mushrooms on a birch are, in fact, called polypores. This site indicates that they speed up the decay process when a tree is dead or dying. Bad news, indeed!

Here's some great info - Mushroom & Birch Tree Identification | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/facts_5902783_mushroom-birch-tree-identification.html).

Aborist, thanks I will consult one.

Thanks for your help

My experience with birch bores was that my neighborhood was infected; therefore, after my tree was removed the arborist suggested that I NOT replace it with another one.

I think it's money well spent. Maybe, just maybe, a local nursery will have a trained tree specialist (different from a certified arborist) on staff so I would ask.

My experience with birch bores was that my neighborhood was infected; therefore, after my tree was removed the arborist suggested that I NOT replace it with another one.

I think it's money well spent. Maybe, just maybe, a local nursery will have a trained tree specialist (different from a certified arborist) on staff so I would ask.

Trained tree specialist is the way to go I guess. My neighbor had to remove her tree, but her other tree closest to mine they just trimmed it down to the ends. We really need to shade our front window because the sun is extremely dangerous and I do mean that.