The White Birch tree is characterized by its beautiful white bark (when mature) and drooping branches, whereas the River Birch tree has a brownish-red exfoliating bark and pyramidal to rounded … In USDA zones 8b and 9a, river birch needs regular irrigation to survive the heat. 14 years ago. That said, planting a birch on the dry prairies is not a practical thing to do. Keep reading to learn more river birch tree facts, such as river birch tree care and effectively using river birch trees … My landscape service pruned my river birch by removing all of the lower branches up to about 6 feet off the ground. Height 20m (65ft). Is it safe to have the trees trimmed during the late summer or fall. They love it where they are, but in the last few years they have become HUGE. Birch trees should be pruned during the dormant months of late winter to early spring. If you wait until later, the cuts will needlessly bleed copious amounts of sap. The other is a drought-resistant large shrub called black birch or river birch, which can tolerate serious drought. Spring or early summer pruning helps with that, at least from what I’ve observed here. Paper birch starts life with a brown trunk that whitens as it ages. Its attractive bark is especially striking in the winter when the rest of the tree is bare. The vital sap will seep out of the pruning cut and diminish the tree’s overall health. The bog birch is short and shrubby and grows in wetlands. Pruning silver and river birch trees near house. There are several tools available for pruning a birch tree, you will have to choose between one or the other depending on several factors, the most important is the age (height) of the birch. The river birch tree often is used for landscaping due to its graceful drooping limbs and attractive color. Advertisement. These trees should be pruned in fall, after the leaves have dropped. The best time to trim River Birch is in the late summer - fall. The river birch is a popular tree for river banks and wet parts of the garden. They provide great shade, but the clean-up of the debris they produce is not worth it. When pruning birches including dwarf river birches, it is best to avoid Spring and Fall pruning when the sap is flowing as this will stain the branches and trunks by “bleeding” sap. Pruning is best carried out in late spring, summer, or fall to avoid any heavy sap from flowing from cuts. debi9217. River birch tolerates low soil oxygen, flooding, and clay soil, but needs moist conditions. I'm very upset - I feel as though they've ruined my tree. Two of the most common birch tree species in the Northeast are the River Birch and White Birch. I have 3 clumps of 3 river birch trees. The tree is fast growing, commonly to heights of 60 feet.. Prune white birch trees by pruning at the right time, choosing the proper branches to prune and cutting carefully. A: River birch tree sap is known to cause babies to be born naked and to make your hair turn gray when you’re old. When to Prune. Silver Birch Tree Pruning Times. Dark glossy green leaves, yellow in autumn. Birch trees experience the same pressure build up in their roots when exposed to the same temperatures as Maples, thus, when cut in late winter, they too will “bleed” heavy amounts of sap. see more; Synonyms Betula rubra. European white birch is a fast-growing, graceful tree with creamy white bark that peels to reveal darker skin beneath. White birches should be pruned before the first day of May or after the first day of August. The wood is medium to lightweight and quite sturdy. Maple and birch trees are famous for the copious amounts of sap they bleed after being pruned in late winter. River birch is best pruned after August 1. River birch is hardy, grows rapidly, but tends to be short-lived (30 to 40 years) in many urban settings, possibly due to inadequate water supply. River birch in this area responds quite well to reduction as long as the cut size is kept at a size that the tree can seal up fairly quickly. River Birch- Pruning. If you really want one, plant it, water it and water it again, don't stop watering, ever. They are not affected. I have tons of natural clump birches that were not planted and they are more resistant to borers. Plants of the characteristics of these varieties of birches, which can reach great heights, in principle are not recommended to be planted too close to a house. The same rules apply to Birches for developmental pruning as they do to Maples. To avoid this, only prune birches when they are in a non-growing dormant phase. The only thing with pruning river birch is it will perpetuate pruning on at least a bi-annual cycle and even annually if it’s happy. Cutting back river birch tree to trunks birch pruning winter care and fertilizing hawks landscape inc birch pruning winter care and fertilizing hawks landscape inc dwarf river birch betula nigra little king pruning river birch home garden information center tree care spring pruning tips cm s outdoor solutions group. Prune at the right time. Be sure you have plenty of space for this tree as they can spread to 40 feet across. I'm a complete novice to pruning/trimming. A landscaper (16 years ago) suggested these (and I didn't argue since I love the bark and look) and planted them about 10 feet from our screened porch and patio on a small hillside. Pruning cuts at this time will ooz sap from the cuts, but this will not harm the tree. I also admit that I'm not an expert. The limbs are so long, they are nearly touching the ground. For safety reasons it is preferable to leave a certain distance to avoid the possible fall of branches on the roof. The following are some useful tips on how to prune a birch tree. With a mature height upwards of 60 feet and a rapid growth rate this shade tree is a great option for large homes. Birch trees are good-looking plants and great supporters of wildlife. Unlike the white-barked birches, river birch’s tolerance of bronze birch borer, birch leaf miner, and drought and heat are part of why it has become the birch of choice for landscaping around the country, and the only choice for the south. River birch trees are pretty immune to most of these assaults and therefore can be pruned at other times of the year. The tree requires an acid soil, otherwise it becomes chlorotic. River birch is a medium to tall tree, growing 60-80 feet at maturity and about 40 wide. Hi Heather-The sap moves freely in the birch tree during the winter and early spring. So, remember to prune Birch the same time as you prune Maples, in June and July. Birch Tree Benefits. Family Betulaceae . It is important to know from where in nature your tree's relatives come. These adaptable trees are easy to grow and no maintenance once they are established. When and how should I fertilize it? They "bleed" sap quite freely when cut in the spring. The tree most of us think of as the ideal birch is the cut-leaf weeping birch from northern Europe. I've done quite a bit of research and found that river birch "bleed" when pruned in the late winter/early spring, so it is suggested that pruning be done in late spring/early summer. Learn about river birch, also called black birch or red birch, many cultivars of graceful, fast-growing, upright, open, deciduous trees of wetland forests. It is the hybrids that I purchased and planted that are most susceptible to this type of infestation. River Birch Tree Facts. River Birch- Pruning. This tree is about 8 - 10 years old and has never been pruned like this before. Trees typically live 50 -75 years. Branches that rub together should be removed. River birches are fast growing shade trees and they can easily grow 2 to 3 feet per year. While this is usually not a problem for the tree, it can be disconcerting for the owner when sap drips on outdoor furniture, walkways and people. Pruning birch trees limits insect infestations and promotes longer life. The birch tree is grown throughout Canada and the continental United States. The lower branches are too low to walk under. Neither tree requires regular pruning. Some have brances from the ground up, two of which have the smaller trees with them. This picture from our front yard, shows a cluster of River Birch trees in the background. The river birch, ideal for planting in damp soil, a fast-growing tree with shaggy light brown to creamy bark, heavily peeling in layers when young. Almost done A late August or early September pruning is probably best as the leaves have produced most of the energy for the tree that they will produce and the hottest most stressful part of summer is past. As it gets bigger it uses more water. Genus Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring . The trunk typically grows about 2 feet in diameter but occasionally will be much wider. Birch – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. Leave at least 75 percent of the tree intact when pruning. Among the tools you can use are the following: Hand Pruning Shears: Stems up to half inch in diameter can be pruned with hand shears. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture **plant hardiness zones 4 through 9a**. pruning river birch. When it comes to silver birch trees, these are best pruned between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Crossing or crowded branches should be removed. I would not fertilize them. River birch trimming? This shade tree has highly symmetrical branching and upright pyramidal to upright oval form. I have 6 river birches in my back yard ranging from 7 to about 10ft. A: You can prune any time after the leaves fall and before next February. Avoid early spring pruning while the tree's sap is running. Some of the information I read mentioned that River Birches will bleed sap profusely if they're cut at the wrong time, seems to me that Spring is the time to avoid pruning. River Birch trees are known for their graceful drooping limbs, foliage, and beautiful peeling bark. In addition, summer pruning is discouraged due to birch borer and other pests. A fast-growing shade tree, river birch (_Betula nigra_) is the most widely adapted of the birch trees. River Birch Trees. My birches have borers and there is nothing I can do to save the tree. The time to make a long lasting effect on the form and structure of the plant is when the tree is young. Other than that, the sap that is dripping from the cut branches is harmless. And late spring and early summer are when bronze birch borers are out in full force and may take advantage of fresh pruning wounds. Just wanted to make sure it was ok to snip off 9 or 10 lower-hanging branches, don't want any long-term damage to the tree. The benefits of birches outweigh the slight deficiencies mentioned above. The lovely birch -- except for one tough native, the black or river birch, all birch are swamp trees. The birch tree is popular among homeowners due to its beautiful bark, modest size and graceful branches. Two seem to have not grown leaves on the top approx. They can also grow to over 50 feet tall and like most trees they need TLC. 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