Injuries create entry points for insects and disease. Sign up for our newsletter. The root system is fairly shallow and so water will be easily accessible from the base of the tree, assuming the soil has good drainage. It isn’t a low-maintenance tree, but it well worth the time you put into it. Weeping silver birch (Betula pendula) is a European species that is well suited to North American locations with mild summers and cold winters. It was also used in folk magic to ward off evil and banish fear. Weeping silver birch trees grow best in areas where summer temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit (25 C.) and where the roots are covered with snow for most of the winter. In a location with cool summer temperatures, the weeping birch can handle a great deal of bright sun. Bright white bark and long, downward growing shoots at the ends of the branches create an effect unmatched by other landscape trees. There are many varieties of birch with a range of bark colorations, some with grey, silver, reddish brown, or dark brown bark, but the white birches are the most recognizable in both residential and woodland settings. However, the weeping birch is available in a number of varieties, and some of them are smaller; Young's Weeping Birch, for example, grows to a maximum of ten feet tall, so it's possible to find a cultivar to suit your spatial needs. https://www.thespruce.com/weeping-birch-plant-profile-4847067 In Scotland, birch trees were often selected to be used to the annual maypole dances. https://www.specialitytrees.com.au/trees/betula-pendula-youngii-vvcv7 Peg Aloi is an experienced gardener and writer whose interests include the folklore of plants and herbs. Prune in late winter before the tree breaks dormancy. Pruning cuts bleed an abundance of sap if you wait until spring. A weeping silver birch is a graceful beauty. Then, their autumn color display is a real show stopper, with bright yellow leaves that remain on the tree for weeks. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/weeping-birch-tree-disease-pests-25715.html Choosing a weeping birch for your landscape needs requires some planning and consideration. A thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree will help hold moisture in. If the soil in the area isn’t naturally moist, install drip irrigation under the mulch. The weeping birch is somewhat susceptible to fungal diseases; keep the tree well-pruned and trim off any diseased branches or twigs. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. The weeping birch can grow to be fifty feet tall, and its shapely canopy can spread as much as thirty feet, so it needs plenty of space in the landscape to achieve its ideal form. Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) Cherry birch is a large tree that grows from a single main … Keeping the base of your weeping birch tree heavily mulched will help ensure consistent temperatures and humidity, keeping moisture intact even during drought. The female catkins appear as new shoots in the spring. The weeping birch, like other birches, has both male and female catkins; the males appear in fall, and will stay on the tree through the winter and open in April or May. Water at the base of the tree during drought: three gallons of water once per week should be sufficient. This tree can also tolerate a slightly wet location, such as beside a pond or by a creek that overflows occasionally. Because the bark of this tree is somewhat soft, its trunk can be vulnerable to injury, and cuts in the bark can lead to pests invading or other problems, so take care when mowing grass. Great deal of bright sun trees like mild summers that are not too,! 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