This adaptabletype of birch treeis easy to grow in full sun or part shade.
It tolerates most soils but prefers wetter locations and temperatures that arent too high.
Receiving morning sun means their foliage will look the most impressive.
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For this reason, some enthusiasts refer to the species as the poverty birch.
They can thrive in poor, infertile, rocky soils, rich loamy varieties, and heavy clay.
They do prefer a well-drained but moist site.
They have a shallow root system and dont appreciate extended droughts or high temperatures.
Your birch tree won’t need supplemental watering in a naturally moist site with sufficient rainfall.
An amount of 8 to 18 inches should be sufficient.
Temperature and Humidity
The gray birch isnt a tree to plant in hot, sultry southern states.
Fertilizer
Landscape trees such as the gray birch rarely need supplemental nutrients to thrive.
Only apply fertilizer for this species if asoil testreveals there is a particular nutrient deficiency.
Pruning
A big advantage of the gray birch is that it does not require heavy pruning.
Avoid pruning from May to the end of July.
Propagating Gray Birch
Propagating gray birch trees by rooting branch cuttings is tricky but not impossible.
Additional watering may be required if you experience a dry winter, but don’t leave the soil soggy.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Bronze birch borer infestations can be a problem for gray birch trees.
Without insecticidal treatment, infestations can eventually kill the tree.
There is also a cultivar,Betula populifoliaWhitespire Senior, which is particularly resistant to these insects.
While the gray birch is relatively short-livedrarely living beyond 50 yearsit is an excellentmedium-sized treefor home landscapes.
It doesnt get too large, is fast-growing, grows in poor soils, and requires minimal maintenance.
While easily confused, there are some key differences to look out for.
Paper birch has peeling bark, and the gray birch bark is non-peeling.
Paper birch trees can reach 80 feet, whereas the gray birch typically tops out at 30 feet tall.
Betula Populifolia Whitespire.North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Bronze Birch Borer.Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
