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It is not difficult to grow a birch tree in the garden or near the house, especially since this tree is unpretentious and can be propagated in different ways. It always looks noble and impressive in landscape design and can decorate any area. If planting and caring for a crop is carried out according to agrotechnical rules, then it will delight with its beauty for decades.
The main thing when planting a birch is to choose the right place for it.
Pros and cons of birch on the site
Planting a birch tree on a site is allowed only after assessing the characteristics of its cultivation and studying the advantages and disadvantages. Despite the fact that a tree can become a decoration of the territory, in some places its planting is completely inappropriate.
Birch comes in many varieties, but for the garden it is better to choose low-growing varieties
Pros:
- unpretentiousness;
- beautiful, graceful silhouette;
- fast growth;
- high survival rate;
- unique bark color;
- early leafing out.
Minuses:
- the likelihood of breakdowns in windy weather;
- dominance over all closely planted crops;
- a lot of garbage around;
- demanding pruning.
When is the best time to plant a birch tree on a plot?
In order for the plant to quickly take root and not get sick, you need to choose the right day for planting. Experts believe that the most favorable time for planting birch is the second half of autumn or spring. The time when the air temperature remains at +10 °C.
It should also be taken into account that when planting seeds, you need to sow freshly harvested material, since its shelf life is short; when transplanting a seedling from natural conditions, for better rooting, planting is carried out on the day of digging.
Where to plant a birch tree on the site
Before planting a birch tree, it is important to choose the right place for it, as this is considered half the success of growing it. The tree grows rapidly, its trunk increases every year, and a root system quickly develops, which absorbs a lot of moisture from the ground. He needs a site with conditions close to the natural environment.
It is good if the top layer of soil is cool and moist, the soil is loose, fertile, slightly acidic. It is better to avoid planting in open sunny areas, but completely shaded places will also not be the best option for the crop. It is important to choose free space for it, taking into account the shrubs and trees growing nearby.
Planting a tree in a group with other plants is rarely done; it usually grows alone. This is explained by the fact that it absorbs a large amount of moisture from the soil and prevents the development of crops growing nearby.It is allowed to place only plants that do not require watering nearby, for example, bulbous flowers, tenacious, strawberries, barberries. The tree harmonizes well and gets along well next to conifers, except for pine.
Superstitious people never plant this plant in the yard and if they allow it to be planted, it is only behind the fence. They believe that culture attracts evil witches into the home, deprives the owner of happiness, dooms women to loneliness, and also leads to discord in the family.
Not every plant variety is suitable for planting in garden plots
Distance between birch trees when planting
Birch tree planting must be done in accordance with neighborhood rules. If you plan to plant it near a house or any other building, then the distance to it should be five meters or more. The interval between the birch and the neighboring tree should also be about 5-6 meters. If the plant is planted in an alley, a distance of 4 m is allowed.
How to plant a birch tree on a plot
At home, birch can be grown using several methods:
- from seeds;
- from cuttings;
- transplanted from the wild.
Recommendations for each method are different; in order for the seedling to be healthy, it is important to adhere to them. How to properly plant a birch tree from different planting materials will be discussed below.
How to plant birch from seeds
Growing a tree from seeds is not the easiest option. The process is quite interesting, but it requires a lot of work, attention and time.
Planting seeds is carried out according to the following scheme:
- In autumn, branches with earrings are cut from birch trees, collected in a bunch and hung in a dry, well-ventilated place.
- After about a week, when the seeds have ripened, they are carefully shaken out onto a sheet of newspaper and cleared of debris.
- On the site, choose a place for planting, dig it up, remove weeds and treat the soil with any antifungal drug.
- A few days before sowing the seeds, the ground is leveled, holes are made in it at a distance of about 30 cm from each other, 5 cm deep, 10 cm wide.
- With the arrival of cold weather, humus is poured into the bottom of the holes, one seed is placed in each hole and covered with earth.
- In the spring, after the sprouts appear, they are periodically moistened, and at the end of summer, when they stretch to 20-30 cm, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Birch seeds should be planted in the year they were collected.
How to grow a birch tree from a twig
Not every gardener decides to plant a birch tree from a branch. This method, like the previous one, is quite complicated, since the plant takes root reluctantly.
The algorithm for planting a crop with a branch is as follows:
- On a young tree, a formed shoot 60-80 cm long is cut off.
- Dip it into a container filled with a mixture of water and the drug Kornevin.
- Place in a warm, well-lit place until roots appear on the shoot.
- If the result is positive, the branch with roots is planted in a pot filled with nutritious soil.
- Water the cuttings generously twice a day, and seven days later add complex fertilizer.
After about 3-4 weeks, if rooting is successful, the seedling is planted on the site and care for it continues.
At first, it is advisable to provide support for a small birch tree.
Planting birch from the forest
The most common way to grow a tree is to transplant it from the forest. But in order for the plant to take root, you need to dig it up correctly and transport it home.
To achieve success you should act like this:
- Choose a healthy young plant.
- Water the soil around it well.
- Dig up the seedling from all sides and carefully uproot it, being careful not to damage the root system.
- Place the dug up birch tree together with a lump of earth on a thick cloth spread, sprinkle the exposed root shoots with soil, cover it, and take it to the right place.
After transporting the seedling, it is advisable to immediately plant it in a pre-prepared hole
Further care
Once the plant is planted, it needs to be properly cared for. It is simple and consists of the following procedures:
- Watering. Only young seedlings of the crop need moisture. An adult tree does not need to be watered due to the fact that its roots go very deep into the ground.
- Feeding. Every year, when the first leaves of birch grow, they are fertilized with complex compounds; it is also advisable to mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or sawdust.
- Trimming. There is no need to trim a regular tree, but in the fall it is advisable to remove all damaged and dry branches from it. If we are talking about decorative varieties, then in the summer they need formative pruning.
- Disease prevention. To prevent birch from being exposed to diseases and pest attacks, it is recommended to treat it with insecticides once a year.
Conclusion
It is quite possible to grow a birch tree at home, if you follow the above recommendations, the tree will be beautiful, healthy and will become a wonderful decoration of the garden. Despite prejudices, many plant crops not only outside the yard, but also inside it. It looks great on the lawn or lawn near the house, on the shore of an artificial pond, near a gazebo or recreation area.
