Silver Birch

When is the best time to move a Silver Birch to a new spot in my garden and what will happen if i move it at the wrong time?

 

I hope it's a small one!! With most plants, small or big, the dormant season is the best time - that is, aprox end Nov to end Feb. Some plants prefer other times, but I don't think birches are exceptions - but I have never moved a birch! Someone else on here probably has - so let's see what the others think!

Any relatively large plant is best moved with a large amount of soil around the roots, to keep it from losing moisture, etc - and it's a big job. I hope you're sure that's what you want to do!

 

Agree with dendrobium, probably better to plant another one rather than try to shift an established tree. As trees go they aren't particularly long lived anyway (mature ~40, max age ~60-80 yrs.) and the stress is likely to see it off. Cuttings can be taken but the timing is supposed to be a bit tricky: softwood to semi-hardwood after catkins and apearance of leaves but before seed set.

You will probably be OK moving a small tree in the autumn but it's a fair bit of work.

 

Was desperate for a photo this afternoon after cutting loads of grass in the sunshine not knowing that it might have some relevance to this evenings thread..Silver Birch

 

some relevance, yes, Roders - but not a lot!! Would you want to move it?? :D

 

Chain saw comes to mind

 

i moved two birches four weeks ago, be4 any sign of growth [now have mini catkins developing], the small one was about 4foot high and was no prob, but the bigger one was 9 foot high , girth 2", and the bigger roots had spread quite widely, the roots did not come away with a lot of soil, i had to stake it , compost it in and water it in, in fact i should have staked both because the snow knocked them both, i think it is possible to move them now if there is little sign of growth, but it always a risk esp with bigger trees, ....... they might die,,,,,
you are better to buy another one really

[ 12. April 2006, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: Lady Gardener ]

 

I would agree - this is not a good time to move a tree but if you have to - soak it well before lifting. Get as much of the rootball as you can - securing with a sack. Ensure the new hole is nice and big, and well prepared with compost and feed.

Plant, stake and firm well in before giving it another soaking. Then you will have to keep it watered regularly for the next one to two years, whilst it establishes again.

 

Silver birch are short lived and grow fast. Better to leave it and buy another.

 

my silver birch is very slow developing .... this was transplanted rather late, i a m going to stake it and water it, but it looks about two weeks behind all the other trees, should i mulch with farm yard manure ?

 

Lady G:

I'm assuming you have it properly staked to prevent root rock and the site was well prepared.

Personally I'd just keep it well watered (Not that it's necessary this week :D ) Manure mulch or other feeding is likely to slow root development whereas you want the root system to spread and search for nutrients which gets it established quicker.

In Northern Ireland (Co. Armagh) there's an area off the lower end of Lough Neagh called The Birches. It's a low lying, semi-boggy area that is almost exclusively native silver birch. Untill I went there I always though birches liked a fairly dry soil but now I reckon it's difficult to give them too much water :D