How to Grow Silver Birch Trees

Silver birch trees provide an attractive addition to any landscape.

Silver birch, also known as European birch or Betula pendula, are popular landscape ornamental trees because of their attractive white bark. However, they require higher maintenance than other trees because of susceptibility to the bronze birch borer, birch leaf miner, and other insect pests and fungi. They require watering during dry weather and regular fertilization. Silver birch trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 7 in moist, well-drained soil with full sun but do not tolerate high summer heat well.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Silver birch tree
• High-phosphorus fertilizer (optional)

Instructions

1. Dig a hole with the shovel so that it is the same depth but twice the circumference of the root ball of the silver birch tree.

2. Loosen the roots around the outside of the root ball and set it into the hole.

3. Refill the hole and amend the dirt with a slight amount of the fertilizer, depending on the quality of the soil. Young silver birch trees develop stronger root systems when provided with extra phosphorus.

4. Water the tree deeply after planting and enough to keep the soil moist afterward. Once the tree is established it should require watering only if there is a long dry period but make sure it does not get waterlogged, which may result in root rot.

5. Spread a ring of mulch around the tree, leaving a gap between the mulch and the trunk so that pests do not have easy access.

6. Fertilize the silver birch tree once a year after the first year to help keep it strong and healthy. This helps it resist insect and fungal infestations.

7. Prune silver birches sparingly, removing only dead or diseased branches, to avoid weakening the tree.

References

• University of Florida: USDA Forest Service Fact Sheet: Betula pendula, European Birch
• University of Connecticut Plant Database: Betula pendula, European White Birch
• Trees for Life: Birch - Silver Birch, Downy Birch