BIRCH TREE CARE

The graceful, usually multi-stemmed, Birch Tree is much admired in the landscape. Delicate foliage gracefully rustles in the summer wind; the clear yellow fall leaf color is a masterful adornmeent in autumn. No matter what variety of birch, it adds unique winter interest through bark color and texture.

Birch trees have relatively shallow root systems that need to be kept moist and cool. We recommend a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch such as shredded Cedar or Cypress be used for this purpose. The mulch layer conserves soil moisture, buffers roots from temperture extremes, and adds beauty to the landscape. During hot, dry, and windy weather all trees need adequate supplemental watering when rainfall is scarce. This is particularly true of birches, and especially so for River Birch. Inadequate water will cause leaves to turn yellow suddenly. Premature foliage drop can weaken or result in the death of young birch trees. The best way to water is by setting out a hose near the base of the tree and allowing water to just trickle out so that the entire root system gets a thorough, deep watering at least once a week. Many variables apply in estimating how long to water trees using the trickle method. If you're not sure what to do, talk with one of our staff horticulturists, or refer to the Watering section of our publication entitled "Planting Recommendations".

Early spring and/or late fall are excellent times to fertilize birch trees that have been in the ground for at least one full growth season. We recommend Season Long 11-22-22 Plant Food or Ross Tree Stakes for this purpose. River Birch trees require a more acidic soil than is typically found in the Chicagoland area. It is a good practice to give them a yearly application of Granular Sulfur when fertilizing in spring or fall. These products and the instructions for their use are available in our garden center all year through.

With proper watering, fertilizing and good cultural care, birch trees can be healthy and grow vigorously. White birches should receive annual preventive treatments to prevent possible infestation by the Bronze Birch Borer; refer to our publication on that topic for complete details. The Whitespire Birch that Schwarz Nursery recommends is somewhat less susceptible to the pest than other varieties of white birch.