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Can I control the height/growth of this birch tree?

SplandySplandy Posts: 161
in Plants
A birch tree self seeded onto my drive/front garden. I allowed it to grow for a while as I do like them, but it's been there for a few years now and getting pretty large. I'm now worried that it'll become too big for the area it's in. Is there any way to control the height or growth of this tree?
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Posts

  • SplandySplandy Posts: 161
    Sorry, not sure how to turn the image.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited March 2022
    You can crop the image to right it.

    How to manage a silver birch's height is a good question. I had one that got to about three metres high, single trunk; beautiful, inherited. The base ended up rotting and I took it down, but it was very easy to remove when that young; the work of ten minutes. Personally, if you like the tree and it isn't right bang next to the house, I would leave it and see what happens.

    Seeing as where it's seeded, the roots wouldn't be easy to remove, but that might be fine. I personally don't take out tree roots and leave them to rot away and it seems to work.



  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872

    Don't have an answer for you but at least you can now view the tree. Personally I think it would look quite nice left where it is but more than likely that's not the answer.  :)
  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    edited March 2022
    @Fire beat me to it but came up with an answer for you.  :)
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Have you an idea of the depth of soil in that location?  If it's limited it will also limit the tree's growth and ultimate height and spread.  It's just about the right height now and a good shape too! Birch trees don't take well to having the growing point removed and will look unsightly.  I'd leave it and take action by removing it at a later date if it outgrows its situation.  
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I've not heard birch don't like the growing tips removed before, so that interesting. In my experience with a similar volunteer birch and one I grew in and large pot, they didn't mind have the leader pruned back but it does change the shape so they don't look as nice and natural. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited March 2022
    Hi @thevictorian, I failed with pruning a small birch tree once and had to remove it as it didn't really recover.  I didn't realise they were so sensitive, as detailed here: How To Trim A Birch Tree? — Forest Wildlife 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think it is the wrong time of year to prune a Birch as they produce a lot of sap.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    They do tend to have very shallow roots. We have quite a few in our large garden, and they do seem  to get blown over / uprooted in strong winds. Still plenty of trees left!
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I had a silver birch I cut down one winter because it was too big. Two years later we had a multi stemmed birch in its place.  Leave it while you like it, then take a saw to it.
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