Silver birch, silver birch, Betula pendula – profile & care

A single birch delivers up to 3 liters of plant sap in spring when a branch is cut. In the past, this processed birch water was known worldwide as a hair tonic. Today it is processed into sweet jelly or sweet birch wine.

location

The silver birch is one of the light tree species. Thus, she needs a certain amount of light to thrive at all. Within this species, it is even considered by far the most light-hungry forest tree in Europe. This would define the primary framework conditions for the lighting conditions at the location.

• Sunny position to light penumbra.
• Preferably in a solitary position, without direct competition.
• The birch avoids locations with stagnant heat in summer.

Because of its light crown, the silver birch allows other plants to grow under the protection of its canopy. Insofar as these are trees that later tower above them, the Betula pendula pays for this generosity with its life. The competitive strength is in stark contrast to their pioneering spirit.

soil condition

Adaptability and rapid growth qualify the silver birch as the most important pioneer tree in Central Europe. When it comes to colonizing a fallow area, the deciduous tree is guaranteed to be the first to appear. After a major fire, hurricane or other natural disaster, it doesn’t take long for the first seedlings to make their way through the chaos. Of course, such an adventurous tree does not place any special demands on the quality of the soil.

• Dry, sandy-gravelly or peaty soil.
• Gladly also sandy-loamy to clayey and slightly moist.
• Acidic soil with a pH of 5 to 8.

A Betula pendula rarely gains a foothold on calcareous soil. With plaster, on the other hand, she knows how to get along. Healthy growth is guaranteed if the tree is given a topsoil thickness of approx. 60 cm, so that it can spread out its extensive central root system.

watering and fertilizing

Regardless of all frugality, the silver birch has a high water requirement. The soil may be extremely lean and sandy; on the other hand, if there is no access to sufficient water supplies, the situation becomes difficult. This is especially true for young trees. This fact can be recognized by the fact that silver birches are found unusually frequently along water bodies. Hobby gardeners know how to use this property by planting the deciduous tree along the garden pond or stream to strengthen the bank.

• Water young birch trees abundantly while they are growing.
• Only water adult trees during summer drought.
• Ideally use rain or pond water.

From the soil requirements it can be deduced that a silver birch does not need any additional fertilizer. A high concentration of fine roots allows the tree to get all nutrients within reach.

To cut

A shape and maintenance cut should only be considered when absolutely necessary. In general, the silver birch does not tolerate pruning well, especially due to the high sap content. Experienced gardeners therefore choose the timing carefully to minimize the risk of damage. In winter, between November and January, the sap pressure is at its lowest level, while at the time of new growth it increases to its highest level.

• Prune silver birch on a frost-free, overcast day.
• Remove dead and frozen branches at the base.
• Pruning back to at least two leaf buds is possible.
• Make each cut approx. 3 mm above a resting eye in an inclined position.
• Only use freshly sharpened, disinfected tools.

An experienced hobby gardener allows young shoots until they have reached a length of 20 cm or 25 cm. Then they can also cope with a pruning down to one or two leaves. To ensure that the silver birch does not bleed out afterwards, every cut must be treated immediately. Any frayed injury is first smoothed out with a sharp knife. The wound closure agent is then not applied to the entire cut, but only to the edge.

transplant

Experience has shown that a fully grown Betula pendula does not get over a change of location. The extensive shallow root system with countless fine roots is simply not made for transplanting because damage cannot be avoided. If, on the other hand, it is a young tree that does not yet have white bark, transplanting is permitted.

• Ideally, transplant in the spring when the birch has sprouted 1 cm.
• At the new location, dig a planting hole with twice the volume of the root ball.
• Now tie the branches together with a rope for easy transport.
• Dig up the birch and put it in the planting hole without delay.

Before the tree is buried, the experienced hobby gardener drives a support stake into the bottom of the hole. He then fills in the excavation again, steps down everything and pours generously. The silver birch should now be just as deep in the ground as before. He connects the support post and the tree with a wide belt or coconut rope. The binding material should be removed no later than next year so that it does not grow into the bark.

multiply

A pioneer plant, such as the silver birch, is characterized in particular by its pronounced ability for generative propagation. This means that she develops tons of seeds that settle everywhere. Anyone who would like to plant a birch in the garden simply digs up a seedling that they discover in the wild. If no suitable specimen can be found, there are two promising options.

cuttings

One to two-year-old shoots are ideal for use as cuttings in early summer. To do this, the gardener cuts them off to a length of about 10 cm. The lower half is defoliated while 1 to 2 pairs of leaves linger in the upper part. Immediately afterwards he inserts them so deeply into a peat-sand mixture that only the leaves can still be seen. It is recommended to plant only one cutting in each nursery pot. Although this measure takes up more space, it has the advantage that there are no tangled roots to untangle later.

• The gardener waits for the roots to set up in a semi-shady place.
• It only keeps cuttings and substrate so moist that they do not dry out.
• Rooting was successful when new shoots appear.

Small birch seedlings have developed by autumn; however, they are not yet sufficiently frost-resistant. Consequently, the gardener takes care of them throughout the winter in a bright, frost-free room. By the following spring, the offspring will be mature enough to be planted out in the garden.

sowing

The ripe seeds can be taken from the small nuts in August and September. Alternatively, numerous shops offer them for little money. In the course of a sowing, the hobby gardener experiences at first hand why the silver birch conquers every fallow land in Wild West style. The seeds germinate within a short time, after which the seedlings really shoot up. Already in the first year they have reached a height of 30 cm. By the end of the second year they are already 2 meters high, and by the end of the fourth year they are dominating the garden with 4 meters.

• Fill a seed tray or pots with potting soil.
• Stick the seeds about 1-2 cm deep into the substrate.
• In the following time place light and moisten a little.

Germination begins after 2 to 4 weeks. Pricked out in individual pots from a height of approx. 5 cm. In this phase, the small Betula pendula are still cultivated in lean substrate. Only when they have reached a height of 15 cm to 20 cm does the gardener repot them in normal garden soil mixed with sand, gravel or grit. If young silver birches come into contact with nutrient-rich humus too early, this circumstance significantly inhibits growth.

diseases and pests

The silver birch is surrounded by numerous invertebrate species, some of which have even specialized in the tree. It is the nutritious birch sap in particular that attracts beetles and butterflies.

Birch leaf roller (Deporaus betulae, Rhynchitidae)
The black, 3-5 mm small beetle with spotted wings causes more visual damage. In the spring, he rolls the leaves into small bags to lay his eggs in. During the next 3 months the larvae grow in it, the leaves turn brown and dry up. Since only one generation develops per year, it is sufficient to remove the brown leaves and dispose of them in the household waste.

Birch leaf wasp (Craesus septentrionalis syn. Croesus)
The damage caused by the 10 mm large wasp has a more serious effect. The larvae eat the leaves from the outside, preferring to attack young silver birches. Regular collection can keep the infestation within limits. Ichneumon wasps, birds and hedgehogs are natural enemies. Preparations containing neem oil and sprays against larvae, which are permitted in allotment gardens, have proven to be helpful control agents.

Birch bark beetle (Scolytus ratzeburgi)
This bark beetle mainly attacks weakened silver birches. The females bore tunnels up to 10 cm long into the wood to breed the offspring. These holes attract woodpeckers that increase the damage in search of prey. Effective control methods are not yet known. Only a species-appropriate care serves as an effective prevention, so that the Betula pendula does not even come into the sights of the birch bark beetle.

Among the countless fungal diseases that threaten a silver birch, the parasitic birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) is one of the most dangerous infections. The spores cause rapid brown rot, which prevents the tree from optimal light yield. So far, infested trees have had to be felled to prevent further spread.

Beautiful varieties for the small garden

Where a silver birch appears oversized with its stately size, the leisure gardener does not have to do without the pretty tree. The following varieties offer a sensible alternative:

Weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’)

• Growth height 400 cm to 700 cm.
• Drooping foliage, like a waterfall.

Red birch (Betula pendula ‘Purpurea’)

• Growth height 700 cm to 900 cm.
• Gorgeous dark red foliage.

Gold-Birke (Betula pendula ‚Golden Cloud‘)

• Growth height 500 cm to 700 cm.
• Golden yellow foliage on reddish branches.

Farnblättrige Birke (Betula pendula ‘Dalecarlica’)

• Growth height 800 cm to 1000 cm.
• Deeply dissected leaves with beautiful fall colors.

Column birch (Betula pendula ‘Fastigiata’)

• Growth height 600 cm to 800 cm.
• Slender in shape, like an obelisk.

The ornamental birch ‘Karaca’ is an interesting new breed. It thrives in the form of a shrub and rarely grows larger than 250 cm to 300 cm. It is therefore also suitable for keeping in buckets.

Conclusion
The silver birch fascinates with unique characteristics that qualify it as an interesting plant for large gardens and parks. It is not deterred by any location, no matter how inhospitable, and colonizes soils in which hardly any other plant wants to thrive. As a result, she hardly makes any significant demands on her care. At the same time, the Betula pendula impressively sets the scene with its black and white bark and picturesquely hanging branches.