Birch Tree Basics

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It ’s rare to find a deciduous tree that take a shit a big impact in the winter garden , but the birch rod is an elision . With papery whorl of barque in colour ranging from snow bloodless to cinnamon brown , the birch rod take halfway stagecoach in the garden after the foliage fall and other plant go dormant . But the barque is just one of the birch tree ’s many attributes . hear about the qualities that make it a beautiful addition to the landscape painting no matter what the season .

birch rod farm on either side of this path in Acadia National Park . Photo by : J.K. Putnam / Alamy Stock Photo .

Birch trees(Betula)are ordinarily denizens of colder regions of the northern hemisphere because they do n’t fare well in hot , juiceless climates . There are about 18 mintage aboriginal to North America , but the ones listed here are among the most common and provide the great ornamental note value .

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Non - aboriginal birches include :

In this garden , ‘ Whitespire ’ birches were planted in a unconnected style to appear as if they grew here naturally . Photo by : Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .

When to plant:

The effective clip to plant birch tree diagram is in the bounce or fall , when the dirt is moist and temperature are coolheaded . If plant in the nightfall , allow at least four to six weeks before the ground freezes to give the roots enough time to become established ( seeWhat to institute in Your Fall Garden ) .

Where to plant:

Because birch are shallow - rooted , they prefer a fix where the soil remains cool and moist while exhibit the canopy to copious sunlight ( about 6 hours day by day ) . The idealistic spot is the north or east side of a building , where the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will receive full sun in the morning time and some subtlety during the afternoon .

Soil:

Birch can thrive in a all-inclusive range of territory types , really only objecting to super smashed or ironical experimental condition , says Paul Bartlett of Stone Lane Gardens , a specialist in birch and alder tree trees . Some birch tree will even grow successfully in blind drunk terra firma as long as it is not waterlogged . Slightly acidic soils ( with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 ) are idealistic , but penchant vary with the species , with river birch favoring a pH below 6.5 while chicken birch is tolerant of alkaline conditions . Here are some top for essay the pH of your ground : Garden Soil 101 .

Planting tips:

you may implant birch rod trees in groups or as undivided specimen , count on the space uncommitted and your invention aim . “ There are no exacting convention about planting distances , and if blank is limited , three trees planted in the same hole can create an effective mini coppice , ” says Bartlett . If you prefer a multi - trunked tree but ca n’t find one at a local nursery , he suggests create the same effect by implant three tree in one hole with their roots almost affecting . As the grouping matures , the trunks will finally tinct at the root word .

Watering:

Most birch are sensitive to drought and develop effective in condition where their shallow root organization will be kept nerveless and moist , specially during the oestrus of the summer . Keep the territory moist to the depth of the root , in particular during the first couple of years after planting , by soak it thoroughly with a hose . cover the stem zone with a 2- to 3 - inch level of mulch will also aid to continue wet .

Fertilizing:

Birch trees planted in high - pH soils may need supplemental iron to prevent yellowing of the leaves ( chlorosis ) . Applying a low - atomic number 7 , slow - press release plant food with branding iron will help boost the acidity of the soil and meliorate nutritive uptake .

Diseases and pests:

The bronze birch borer is the most threatening pest of decorative birch , specially white - bark varieties and trees under emphasis . Early warning signs of damage are a yellowing and thinning of foliage at the upper crown of the tree and D - mold holes in the trunk where the borer larvae have made entry . Another common pest , the birch leafminer , feed inside the leaves of birch tree and can also induce brown of the foliage . See this advicefrom the Morton Arboretum for preventing , identifying , and cover bronze birch woodborer and leafminer attack .

Pruning:

The best time for pruning birch tree is in late fall or winter when the tree diagram is still sleeping . birch rod will “ leech , ” or lose sap , if you lop them in other spring before the leaves come forth . Also avoid pruning birch tree during the summer when birch borer are active , since they are attracted to fresh wounds in the barque .

Cleaning:

The only drawback to white barque is that it may begin to depend grayish and dingy after metre . The solution ? Simply give it a in effect scrubdown with water and balmy dish grievous bodily harm . This is a great beauty handling for older birch tree Tree because it remove the buildup of shit , lichen , and moss without damaging the bark . See thesebirch cleansing tipsfrom the Chicago Botanic Garden .

USING BIRCHES IN THE GARDEN