The best times to prune river birch are during late spring, late fall and winter. Pruning in the spring before the first leaves emerge will cause the tree to lose sap, and fresh pruning cuts can attract birch borers in the summer.
How long does it take for a river birch to mature?
The medium to fast growth rate of river birch trees means they can reach 30 to 40 feet in 20 years, according to the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture. River birch trees grow fast in moist, warm areas and less vigorously in urban environments.
Where should I plant a river birch tree?
Choose a planting site that receives full to partial sun, preferably in the morning hours. River birch needs cool, moist soil. Afternoon shade helps maintain cooler soil, so a site on the east or north of a house or building works best.
Why do you plant birch trees in threes?
One possible reason people plant silver birches in groups of three is to reduce their height. … Since the birch roots are both deep and wide-spreading, certain gardeners feel that by planting a cluster of three trees, the roots will have to share a small area and, as a result, may limit the height of the trees.
Should I plant a river birch tree?
Because of its affinity for wet, heavy soil, planting a river birch tree can fill in spaces where nothing else seems to grow. If you have water on your property, consider lining it with river birch trees. If you don’t, planting a river birch tree or two in your yard will make for an attractive specimen and shade tree.
How many trunks should a river birch have?
This shade tree has highly symmetrical branching and upright pyramidal to upright oval form. Although it naturally forms just a single trunk, it is frequently sold in multiple-trunked form with two to five trunks per tree. River birch in winter, spring, summer and fall.
How far should I plant a river birch from my house?
Site river birches at least 20 feet away from houses or power lines where local utility companies will need to trim the tree canopy. River birch roots seek out water and will take advantage of any cracks in an old water line, so avoid planting too close to sewer pipes (which often run through front yards).
Can you cut one trunk of a river birch?
Plant a single-trunk birch tree in spring and allow it to grow for one year or until the trunk is at least 1 inch in diameter. Cut back the entire tree in the following spring, leaving only about a 2-inch stub in the ground. Given plenty of water, the tree will grow several shoots that become the trunks.
Can a river birch be topped?
There are several steps in pruning a birch tree. … Never top a tree. Remove branches less than 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter as close as possible to the collar, or thickened area where the branch attaches to the trunk.
How do you take care of a river birch tree?
For best growth, river birch trees require at least four hours of full sun on a daily basis. Planting them in areas where they receive direct, unfiltered exposure to sunlight and are only partially in the shade ensures that they will actually have the light they need. This sunlight is crucial to river birch tree care.
What can I plant with a river birch tree?
Hostas are a great ground cover plant for partially shaded areas such as those beneath river birch trees. These plants come in a variety of colors and may grow as small as 3 to 4 inches or as tall as 2 feet. Though they can survive in full sun, hostas prefer some shade and they grow best in slightly moist soil.
Do river birch trees have invasive roots?
The roots of River Birch are far reaching but are non-invasive. Since the tree prefers to grow in moist, wet and clay soils therefore the roots do not penetrate deep in search of water since it is easily available in the upper layer of the soil.
Which birch tree is best?
Award-winning Betula ermanii ‘Grayswood Hill’ is a particularly desirable birch with peeling, luminescent creamy-white bark tinted orange with pinkish lenticels (bumpy lines). Vigorous and fast growing, this medium-sized deciduous tree has an open, slender habit and bears oval, glossy, rich green leaves, 4 in.
Can you plant a river birch next to your house?
As a water-loving tree species, they adapt well in moist conditions, especially near banks of rivers, hence their name. But many property owners are weary of planting new River Birch trees near their house in fear that the roots might grow excessively and damage the underground plumbing, and ultimately, the foundation.
Are birch trees good for backyards?
Birch is a good choice for town gardens, providing a light, dappled shade while accepting the prevailing soil conditions. Planted en masse, it lends a vertical distraction across the space.
Do river birch trees grow in shade?
River birches like sun to full shade and the soil can be highly acidic to alkaline. It will grow in loam, clay or sand and is somewhat drought-tolerant. It will tolerate wet soils, but prefers moist growing conditions.
Do birds like river birch trees?
Tallamy ranks birches in the Top 5 best woody plants for wildlife. The seeds of a river birch will attract a variety of birds – nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, sparrows, towhees, tanagers, grosbeaks, cardinals and finches – in May and June. Songbirds also munch on the flower buds.
Do river birch trees bloom late?
In addition to the exfoliating bark that offers year-round appeal, river birch produces showy, reddish-green, 2- to 3-inch long male (staminate) flowers called catkins at the ends of branches. They appear in late summer and autumn and remain on the tree during the winter.
How long do river birch trees drop seeds?
The birch tree sheds its seeds during the late spring to early autumn months, depending on the species. Birch trees produce large quantities of seed. For example, the River birch (Betula nigra L.) yields approximately 375,000 seeds per lb., according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Do deer eat river birch trees?
The River Birch tree is loved for its shade and tolerance to not only deer, but poor soils, various sunlight exposures, and divergent water offerings. The River Birch has lovely cinnamon-colored bark and produces rich green leaves in summer.
Does river birch like wet soil?
Soil Preference
The river birch grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It will tolerate moderate flooding as well as some drought.
What’s the fastest growing tree?
The Fastest Fast Growing Trees
- Quaking Aspen. …
- October Glory Red Maple. …
- Arborvitae Green Giant. …
- River Birch. …
- Dawn Redwood. …
- Leyland Cypress. …
- Paper Birch. …
- Pin Oak. A large shade tree that quickly reaches its 70 foot height with an average growth rate of 2.5 feet per year.