Silver Birch Tree

Everything you need to know about the silver birch tree, from identification tips to typical characteristics; how to spot disease and the best way to maintain a silver birch tree.

The silver birch tree is native to the UK. It can reach 30 metres in height in maturity and has a light canopy with characteristic cascading branches. This tree is widely used to boost soil quality so that other plants can grow healthily and it does this courtesy of it deep roots that draw in otherwise inaccessible nutrients, recycling them into the soil as the leaves are shed.

General Facts

Characteristics

Conditions

Threats

Silver Birch Trees and Wildlife

Because the silver birch has an open canopy, it offers the ideal environment for plant life to thrive beneath, so you will often find bluebells, violets, wood sorrel, grasses, mosses and wood anemone growing under a silver birch.

In excess of 300 species of insects consider the silver birch home and a rich source of food. Aphids are drawn to the leaves which means ladybirds follow and numerous moth caterpillars such as the angle-shade, buff tip, Kentish glory and pebble hook-tip will also feast on the foliage. The seeds are favourites for birds such as the greenfinch, redpoll and siskin.

The trunk of the silver birch is much loved by woodpeckers and other hole-nesting birds.

Silver Birch Tree Symbolism and History

Birch is an important tree in folklore and mythology. The Celts considered it a symbol of renewal and purification and Scottish Highlanders would use a birch stick to herd a barren cow in order to make it fertile, or a pregnant cow so that it would bear a healthy calf.

To this day, gardeners use a birch broom to purify their gardens.

The word birch is thought to have come from the Sanskrit bhurga which means a ‘tree whose bark is used to write upon’. The poet S.T. Coleridge named it the ‘Lady of the Woods’ and it is believed that the birch forms numerous English place names including Berkhamstead and Birkenhead.

The Importance of Silver Birch Trees

The timber of the silver birch tree is heavy and robust which means it works well in furniture making and is also widely used for toy making, although it is not widely used in the UK as the trees do not grow as extensively as they do in other areas of Europe.

The bark is used for tanning leather.

Caring for a Silver Birch Tree

The silver birch tree is a low maintenance tree and doesn’t need much other than light pruning. All that really needs to be done is to remove any dead or diseased branches or any that are congested or rubbing together and preventing air flow or light penetration.

It is also good practice to remove branches that are sitting close to the ground as this will make landscaping more straightforward and allow the tree to be enjoyed as a shady haven.

When pruning or generally taking care of a silver birch tree, there are certain things to look out for. These include orange, yellow, brown, black or white pustules on leaves (leaf rust) and the dying off of branches within the crown (birch dieback).

A qualified tree surgeon will know precisely how and when to prune a silver birch tree for best results and they will also be aware of how to detect the common diseases that this tree is prone to, identifying them early on and treating them correctly so as to give the tree the best possible chance of survival.

If you have a silver birch tree that could do with some knowledgeable care and attention, why not get in touch with T.H. Tree Services? As fully qualified and highly experienced tree surgeons, we can offer detailed knowledge and skill across all aspects of tree care. For a free, no-obligation quotation, call us on 01268 642814 or get in touch here.

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