Silver birch

Discussion in 'Trees' started by Lpoole, Jan 2, 2025.

  1. Lpoole

    Lpoole Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi

    Looking for advise on my silver birches from some distance they look OK but up close they have several soft holes and what looks like rot. Does anyone think they could be saved before I look to take them down



    Many thanks for any advise sorry for any wonky pics as was up the trees
     

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    Lpoole, Jan 2, 2025
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  2. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    A lot of that is fairly normal in older trees and there is usually not much to worry about with holes and hollows as the centre of older trees are already dead wood. The centre is only there as a support and not too much a problem if the outer layer is thick enough.

    The very outer layer is, of course, the bark which is fed by the leaves. That feeds the main next layer, the cambium.

    By the looks of it some of yours has hollows from breakages plus natural hollowing, and rotting out. This is not too unusual. Some of those hollows may collect water in heavy rainfalls. Most of your pictures are not too clear but appear to be OK and it looks as though some of it has been pollarded. One shot appears as though it may be splitting which could possibly become a problem but it depends on how sturdy the part growing up from it is.

    Most good tree surgeons will give a free opinion. If you are going to try and get an opinion then emphasise that you don't want it cut unless it is absolutely necessary. If he says that it needs doing then get at least two more opinions and quotes. In any event I don't think the trees need removing but possible some judicious pruning/pollarding. Having the work done can be expensive.

    Good luck. :)
     
    shiney, Jan 2, 2025
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  3. hailbopp

    hailbopp Super Gardener

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    It is quite difficult to see exactly how bad the rot, holes etc are. Like shiney I would suggest you maybe get a tree surgeon out to have a look but be careful who you get as some so called tree surgeons are more fit to star in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and like to slaughter anything which does not move!
    Silver Birch are pretty good at standing even when pretty old and rotten, I have many in our little wood.
    Did loose a huge one in a serious gale last year. It must have been over 200 years old and had a hole right through the middle of it and had been like that for a good ten years. I only realised the hole went all the way through the trunk when I saw a starling going into the hole one way and came out the other!!
    Was very sad when the old girl gave up the ghost but she is doing sterling work keeping me warm this winter in my wood burning stove. My guess at the size of your trees your Silver Birch are unlikely to come down any time soon. Silver Birch is much less brittle than say Beech and more likely to withstand strong gales even when getting pretty old. A3179EE1-946E-4DE7-B5F5-30D45E10CBA1.png 2E20AD5B-5D30-4D82-A5E0-742871344B8C.jpeg
     
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      hailbopp, Jan 2, 2025
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      If you do get someone to look at them and they suggest filling the cavities with concrete (some so called tree surgeons recommend it) then politely say thank you and never give them any work to do. That can end up doing even more damage to the trees and has no longer been recommended for many years.

      The trees you have shown look quite young and should last many more years. They should quite easily live to 100 years old. Mine were all planted in 1953 and are still going strong - apart from one that came down in the 1987 hurricane.
       
      shiney, Jan 2, 2025
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Have I seen these before?
       
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        pete, Jan 2, 2025
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      • Plantminded

        Plantminded Head Gardener

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        They do look familiar from a previous thread @pete.
         
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        • Lpoole

          Lpoole Apprentice Gardener

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          Thanks for the responses. Have potentially post before as put in a few forums but needed more pics and had time today. Would love to keep them just worried about the amount of rot. I think it's down to the previous owner have them cut very short for years that has caused a fair put of damage to the trunk
           
          Lpoole, Jan 2, 2025
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Silver burches

          Here?

          Is there a good reason why you've posted the same again instead of continuing in your original thread @Lpoole ?
           
          JWK, Jan 2, 2025
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        • Lpoole

          Lpoole Apprentice Gardener

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          Just an error on my part tks for all the responses
           
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            Lpoole, Jan 3, 2025
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          • Thevictorian

            Thevictorian Gardener

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            The split is the only thing I would be worried about and it looks like it was quite a while ago. If you can see fresh damage at the bottom of the split, evidence of spreading, then I think it might benefit the tree for that part to be removed.
             
            Thevictorian, Jan 3, 2025
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