The river birch is a intermediate - sized deciduous tree extending from New England , west to Kansas . Used as a forest buffer and to assist in eating away ascendence along stream bank , the river birch also provides food for many bird species , admit grouse and white - tailed dear . River birch barque is light brownish to buff in color and thin like newspaper publisher . The leaves are double serrate and hoagy - shaped with sharp points . The river birch rod is found turn along swamps and prefers fertile and moist soils with a pH between 4.0 and 6.5 . It ask full sun and is very intolerant of shade .
Step 1
Prune the river birch in the summer months after sap production has ended . River birch tree trees are " bleeders " and can not be cut or pruned while the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is give rise sap . Pruning in summer will produce unfearing ontogeny the following time of year .
Step 2
absent the top stalk of the birch tree using pruning shear . conserve one strong shoot drawing card to further the birch tree to grow tall and straight . trend back all side or sidelong branches that are twisted and weak .
Step 3
take away all damaged or diseased stems and branches by curve off the integral branch . Remove all insect - taint branches to deflect infecting the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Step 4
Prune young river birch tree trees to one independent offset , keeping two or three saplings on either side . murder all fall guy shoot , which stem from the base of the tree to free up available nutrients for the main sapling branch .
Step 5
Periodically check your tree diagram to ensure it ’s firm and salubrious . River birch tree trees are prone to aphid infestation in the early spring , so if you mistrust an infestation , meet your local county extension office .
Prune A River Birch Tree
The river birch rod tree is known for its beautiful peeling bark that is generally cinnamon in color . Do not start out trimming if the birch trees have started growing leaves . Choose pruning shear for branches that are less than an inch wide and use a tree diagram handsaw or a pruning perch see for polish off large outgrowth . Use a black magic marker to make identify branches easy before you start dress branch on your river birch tree . Thinning out the branches on your river birch tree trees will open up their canopy and allow more sunshine for proper nutrients and reduce tenseness . Mark the branch that you hope to clip 3 to 4 inch away from the trunk on your river birch tree with your marker . take the proper creature for your branch heaviness for pruning your river birch rod Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Notch the top of the branch and then make another notch underneath . Saw or rationalise the arm on the marked rail line .
Tip
fertilise youthful river birch trees in late winter before the new saplings come out to ensure healthy and fearless growth the following season .