Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Silver birch with two leaders

2»

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited December 2021
    Then, if it were my garden, as you’re not totally happy with it I would take it down now, replenish the soil a bit and plant a new one … one that has a shape you’re happy with … I’d probably get one of the cultivars with the very white trunks that don’t grow quite as big, and I’d plant it a bit further from the fence so you can appreciate the shape of the whole tree. Pop a few spring bulbs in the soil around it and you’ll be glad you did as I suggest 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Paul060Paul060 Posts: 33
    Dovefromabove said:
    Then, if it were my garden, as you’re not totally happy with it I would take it down now, replenish the soil a bit and plant a new one … one that has a shape you’re happy with … I’d probably get one of the cultivars with the very white trunks that don’t grow quite as big, and I’d plant it a bit further from the fence so you can appreciate the shape of the whole tree. Pop a few spring bulbs in the soil around it and you’ll be glad you did as I suggest 😊 
    Thanks, good suggestion.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you get a multi stem variety [Jacquemontii] that will probably suit the space better.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    All the silver birches are quite large trees. Jacquemonti mature height and spread can reach 15m
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Butterfly66 said:
    All the silver birches are quite large trees. Jacquemonti mature height and spread can reach 15m
    That's true of many trees ... but as gardeners we can make informed choices about how long we're going to allow the tree to grow before felling it and replacing it with another ... similarly we don't allow perennials to grow to their optimum spread ... we lift, divide, replant or replace.  Gardening is about exercising a degree of control over our patch.  :)

    https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/small-betula-birch-trees-trees-c183

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    How close to the house is it Paul? 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Paul060Paul060 Posts: 33
    How close, its not near the house, about 20 metres.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I saw an interesting vid on trees growing in very cold climates. Generally they have one leader (like a "Christmas tree") and will grow in a manner such that snow will slide off easily and cause no damage. If a pine has two leaders, for example, the weight of heavy snow may threatened to split the tree. So, far northern botanic gardens will prune their arborita accordingly.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I ask because it's amazing how many people plant trees close to a house and in a very few years, the roots are starting to cause problems with drains, house foundations, paths, shade, impinging on a neighbour's garden etc. and a few years after that a tree surgeon has to be brought in to take it down because it's become too large for the garden. The cost can be very high.

    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
Sign In or Register to comment.