How to Grow Weeping Cutleaf Birch in Calgary, Canada

The weeping cutleaf birch displays showy white bark.

The weeping cutleaf birch (Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica') displays showy white bark and grows to heights of 50 feet with a 25-foot width at maturity. Also known as a silver birch, weeping cutleafs produce fern-like leaves that appear to fall from the drooping canopy. The weeping cutleaf birch is a hardy tree that thrives when planted in full to partial sun and well-drained soil. Hardy to USDA planting zone 2, weeping cutleaf birches grow well in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which lies within hardiness zone 3b.

Things You'll Need

• Soil-testing kit
• Garden fork
• Lime or peat moss
• Soaker hose
• Mulch
• Pruning tool

Instructions

1. Check the pH of the soil in the Calgary planting site using a soil-testing kit. Birch trees require soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. If your soil does not meet the requirements, amend.

2. Break-up the soil with a garden fork and mix in an amendment if necessary. Add lime to soil with a pH below 5.0 or peat moss to soil with a pH above 6.5. Add the required amendment following packaging instructions.

3. Grow a weeping cutleaf birch in a hole that measure twice the width of its root balls, with a matching depth. The graft union (transition point where roots meet trunk) should rest above the soil line.

4. Water the weeping cutleaf birch deeply using a soaker hose. Two to three hour weekly waterings, maintaining moist soil to a depth of 1-inch is best. Calgary rainfall totals average 16 inches per year, which means that supplemental watering is necessary in lieu of rain.

5. Spread a 6-inch layer of mulch around the trunk of the weeping cutleaf birch tree to improve drainage and reduce weed growth. A layer of bark chips or straw also protects the roots from the cold Calgary winters that drop to minus 35 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• Weeping cutleaf birch trees do not require fertilizing if planted in well-amended soils.

• Use a pruning tool to remove dead or damaged branches in late winter or early spring.

• If you notice that the weeping cutleaf birch has fallen victim to pests or disease, contact a professional arborist as soon as possible. A professional has access to chemicals that are not available to the general public, and will diagnose your tree's condition and create a management plan.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: How to Grow and Maintain a Healthy Birch Tree
• Calgary Area: Calgary Gardening

Resources

• Patmore Nursery: Cutleaf Weeping Birch
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Plant Hardiness Zones in Canada