Heritage® River Birch

1. Planting: Birch Trees need a full day of sun (about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day) and well-drained soil.

Plant after all danger of frost has passed. Select a spot that will receive about 8 hours of sunlight a day and have the roots/soil in a cool, shaded place. Dig a hole that is three times as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Keep the tree as straight as possible and begin to backfill the hole. Put a slow release of water on a hose and leave next to the root system area for a couple of hours to be sure the depth is reached. Finally, spread a three-foot layer of mulch around the base of the tree with wood chips, shredded bark or leaf compost.

2. Watering: Provide deep watering for the Birch Tree weekly using a hose next to the base with a slow flow of water for 2 hours during the growing season. You may need to increase to twice weekly during hot, dry summers. Proper mulching can assist with keeping the roots and soil moist. Reduce watering towards the end of August so your tree can winterize for its dormant stage.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize in the late spring and early summer with a product that targets root growth. Use an acidified evergreen fertilizer such as 10-10-10 because birch trees do better in soil that is slightly acidic.

4. Pruning: The best time to prune birch trees is late summer or early autumn. Start by removing side shoots and suckers first and then decide which branches to remove. Cut back branches that are less than 2 inches wide as close to the trunk as possible.