One possible reason people plant silver birches in groups of three is to reduce their height . ... Since the birch roots are both deep and wide-spreading, certain gardeners feel that by planting a cluster of three trees, the roots will have to share a small area and, as a result, may limit the height of the trees.
How close together can you plant silver birch trees?
To achieve the feel of a natural copse, plant your birch in close groups, with trees spaced 1-3 metres apart .
How far apart do you plant silver birch?
Keep in mind that paper, silver and river birch can grow 40 to 60 feet high, with a spread of 20 to 25 feet, while weeping birch will only get half that tall. Plant taller species 20 to 30 feet apart .
How quickly does silver birch grow?
Birches tend to establish quickly and make rapid growth for the first 12-15 years . This will give a feeling of maturity to even relatively new gardens.
How wide does a silver birch grow?
The silver birch typically reaches 15 to 25 m (49 to 82 ft) tall (exceptionally up to 31 m (102 ft)), with a slender trunk usually under 40 cm (16 in) diameter .
What grows well with silver birch?
Juniper, mugo pine, dwarf blue spruce, dwarf false cypress and Russian arborvitae are a few needled evergreen shrubs to grow near a birch tree.
How far should a birch tree be planted from a house?
hitexplanter. I concur please consider relocating these trees at least 10 feet or more from your home. There are multiple issues to be concerned with. Roots, branches, ill shaped because it is too close to home it will never look right.
What grows well under birch trees?
Groundcovers: surround your birch with foliage plants such as Asarum europaeum (European Wild Ginger) , Hedera Helix (English Ivy) or Vinca minor (periwinkle).
When should you plant a birch tree?
The best time to plant birch trees is in the spring or fall , when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool. If planting in the fall, allow at least four to six weeks before the ground freezes to give the roots enough time to become established (see What to Plant in Your Fall Garden).
What is the average lifespan of a birch tree?
A healthy birch tree should be able to survive and thrive for 40-50 years . In many yards, however, it is not unusual for birch trees, especially the white-barked birches, to die well before reaching 20 years of age.
How far do silver birch roots spread?
The silver birch is a shallow-rooted tree with root systems that have been known to spread up to 10 metres . Although silver birch roots are not considered to be aggressive, they have been known to cause significant damage to lawns, patios, and other structures.
Is silver birch poisonous to dogs?
Animal Potential. Ingestion of birch wood or parts of birch trees — such as the paper birch and the European white birch tree — will not cause symptoms of toxicity in animals . ... However, it may cause gastrointestinal symptoms that are mild.
Can I plant a silver birch in a small garden?
Silver birches are among the best trees for small gardens since they never produce too dense a canopy and their root systems are unlikely to shift foundations. That said, always make sure they are planted at least 10 feet from the house .
Where is the best place to plant a silver birch tree?
Silver birches prefer an open, sunny site . They are not too fussy about soil types, as they grow well in just about all soils, and will even tolerate occasional waterlogging.
When should you cut back a silver birch tree?
They bleed a heavy flow of sap if pruned when awakening from their winter rest, so the best time to prune birch trees is late summer or early autumn . When you prune at the proper time, you not only avoid sap flows, but you also avoid the egg laying season for most insects that infest pruning wounds.
Is Silver Birch invasive?
It was introduced to North America, and is considered invasive in some parts of Canada and the United States . Description – what does it look like? A fast-growing but short-lived tree, with the exception of Scotland where it lives longer, Silver birch can reach 30m.
