How To Plant a River Birch Tree
This how-to video can apply to planting just about any tree. The principles for planting a tree are very similar, regardless of cultivar.
Some additional points:
Many River Birch trees have multiple trunks – this particular cultivar has only one trunk.
You may question the time of year I’m planting this tree
I planted in mid-September, when the danger of hot days still lingers. We had a heat wave this year of temps over 100 degrees for a sustained period and this tree was sitting in a container at the nursery the entire time, and it still looks good. In the fall, you can get some really sweet deals on nursery products, as they want to move them off their lot – I paid half price for this tree and had it delivered at no additional charge.
I point out that the roots have grown out the bottom of the container
That means that the tree is root-bound, which sends up a red flag that it’s been in the container too long. It will need some TLC before and after I plant it. One step I don’t show on the video is loosening the roots from the planting medium. When I removed the tree from the container, the roots were really difficult to loosen, especially near the bottom. I used a three prong garden cultivator and gently dug in between the roots and the planting medium to loosen things up as much as possible without damaging the roots. This should allow water and nutrients to penetrate and stimulate new root growth. This step is essential when planting any kind of tree or shrub which is root-bound.
My soil in that part of my yard is pretty atrocious, despite my best efforts
My house (and neighborhood) sits on top of very alkaline clay. Dig deep enough (and sometimes not very deep at all) and you’ll find red clay that’s almost as hard as a brick-literally.
Some experts will tell you to use 75% compost and 25% of the soil that came out of the hole as backfill
Backfill is what you put back in after the tree is in the hole. That’s a pretty good rule of thumb – it all depends on your soil. When you put the backfill in the hole, do it in alternating layers of soil and compost. After each layer, fill the hole all the way to the top with water (gently) and let it drain. When you’ve layered the compost and soil to within an inch of the top, press the dirt down with your foot and make it nice and snug (don’t compact it!) to work out any gaps between the root ball and the dirt.
I always create a “basin” on the perimeter of the filled-in hole
This serves to collect water, stop runoff and feed the rootball. Make sure it’s level all the way around so water doesn’t run and pool on one side. Leave the basin open for about one month, until you see signs of root growth. Obviously you won’t see the actual roots growing, but you will be able to see healthy green leaves on the tree, new buds, new leaves, and just a generally healthy, sturdy looking tree.
Why Pine Bark Mulch?
A River Birch likes an acid-y, well-drained soil. and pine bark is a high acid wood. As the mulch breaks down, it should acidify the soil. Plus, the roots of any Birch tree like cool, moist soil, so I’ll keep it mulched forever.
Enjoy the video and let me know what you think! Was it helpful?
magnificent points altogether, you simply won a new reader.
D:
Thanks for the comment. That is truly a shame. If the leaves are turning black, that would indicate that the tree is under extreme stress or diseased. My recommendation is to not pay the bill until the landscaper makes good on his mistake or bad stock.
Last spring I was examining one of the trees at the church I go to. We couldn’t figure out why this particular tree was looking so unhealthy while the others were doing fine – until I noticed a piece of burlap sticking out of the ground near the trunk. Turns out the landscaper never removed the burlap from the root ball – it was still completely intact, string and all. I got in there, removed the burlap and now the tree looks beautiful.
Unfortunately, landscapers don’t need a degree or education of any kind before they go into business. Pretty much anybody with a shovel and a lawnmower can start a landscaping business. Buyer beware.
Good luck with your birch tree – send a picture if you like and we can help diagnose the problem.
MY NEWLY PLANTED RIVER BIRCH HERITATE APPEARS TO BE DYING.. AFTER WATCHING YOUR VIDEO, I THINK IT WAS NOT PROPERLY PLANTED… WATER WAS NEVER USED, COMPACTED SOIL MAY BE THE CULPRIT.. THE LEAVES ARE TURNING BLACK INSTEAD OF USUAL YELLOW.. I FEEL AWFUL BECAUSE THE PLANTING WAS DOWN BY PROFESSIONAL AND A BILL WAS SENT TO ME FOR 325 DOLLARS. NOT HAPPY ….