The tree does not do well in hot, dry, or humid climates.
Water
The silver birch should have constantly moist soil.
Birches do not thrive in heat and humidity.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
No supplemental fertilizer should be needed unless you desire more blooms.
The pest may be attracted to the open cuts in the tree that areoozing sap.
Collect birch seeds in the fall through winter, when the catkins brown.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The seeds are small, with wings that help them fly in the breeze.
Before mulching for the winter, water the root zone heavily.
However, you may need to water the area if you have a winter drought or no snowfall.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you are concerned about trunk health or sun scorch, wrap the lower trunk in tree wrap.
Note that the thin bark may exfoliate during winter months to reveal various colors.
This is a normal process and there is no need to help the tree by peeling more bark.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Infestations may be controlled with insecticide sprays to kill adults in mid-May to mid-June.
Other pests includeaphidsand birch leafminers, both of which will cease leaf discoloration and leaf fall.
Birch leafminers can be annoying but not deadly to the tree.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
For leaf spot, apply a fungicide in the spring of the next year to help eliminate the issue.
What Do Silver Birch Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers on a birch tree are called catkins.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
A catkin is a few inches long and has clusters of tiny yellowish-brown flowers covering the caterpillar-like shape.
Silver birch trees have both male and female catkins on the tree.
Male catkins are the long, droopy yellow forms.
The female catkins are the newer, smaller bright green shoots that are more upright in form.
Keep the tree hydrated in all very dry weather to encourage more catkins.
Feeding the tree liquid fertilizer in the spring can help, too.
Leaf spot is the other culprit, which requires pruning of affected branches.
Not much grows beneath it because the weeping form blocks much of the light from under the tree.
have a go at plantshade-loving ground coveringsorshade grassesthat may do well under the canopy.
Choose a spot on the east and north sides of a home to grow a silver birch tree.
That’s where the tree can enjoy some afternoon shade.
Silver birch’s bark is a bit more silvery than paper birch’s white bark.
Eastern birch.Invasive Plant Atlas.
Bertula pendula.North Carolina State Extension.
Birch for Winter Interest.Royal Horticultural Society.
Bronze Birch Borer.Perdue University.
Bronze Birch Borer.University of Minnesota Extension.
Birch Leafminers.University of Minnesota Extension.
What’s Killing the Birch Trees?University of Washington.
