How to Plant a River Birch Tree

The river birch is a tree very conducive to yard and park planning. It is beautiful tree for landscaping with its shaggy bark. It tends to be a hardy tree, withstanding frost and wind, and thriving in damp riverside soil. About the only thing it cannot tolerate is shade. To plant it, there are just a few considerations to keep in mind.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Garden rake
• Garden hose

Instructions

1. Choose a site where the tree will get plenty of moisture and sunshine. It is an excellent tree for planting along the sides of creeks and rivers, especially where reforestation is needed. Don't plant it closer than 15 feet from a house as it can grow to heights of 40 to 70 feet.

2. Dig a hole that is wider and deeper than the root ball of your new tree.

3. Remove any rocks and roots that might be in the way and throw some good compost into the base of the hole. Keep the dirt on the side on a tarp so you can replace it later.

4. Set the tree in the hole. Remove the burlap or plastic pot and position it so that it is sitting straight.

5. Add about one-third of the dirt you set aside earlier. Then tamp it down firmly with the heel of your boot. You do not want to have any air pockets around the roots.

6. Add the rest of the soil, tamping it down firmly after you add the second third and then the last of the dirt. Rake all the soil back around the tree and clean up the area of any dirt clods.

7. Mulch the area around the tree as far out as the perimeter of the leaves. Layer it about 6 inches deep to keep grass and weeds from growing. Pull the mulch away from the trunk of the tree so that it has good air circulation.

8. Water the newly planted tree very thoroughly immediately after planting and then every day for the first week. For the following year, be careful not to let the soil dry out during periods of drought until the roots can reach down to the lower ground water.

References

• Green Gardenista