Description

--Characteristics--

Possibly the most graceful and elegant British native tree, sometimes called 'The Lady of the Woods'. Fast-growing, the Silver Birch has a light canopy, which casts dappled shade allowing other plants to grow beneath it, pendulous branches and golden yellow autumn leaf colour. The peeling white bark and delicate tracery of branches make this tree attractive even in the depths of winter; a mature tree covered in hoar frost is a memorable sight.

Site and soil

The Silver Birch prefers light, free-draining sandy soils, including acid sands, but should do well on all but the heaviest of ground. It copes well with exposed situations and high elevations.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 8m x 3m
After 20 years: 18m x 4m

Leaf and bark

Diamond-shaped, sharply toothed leaves open palest green, darkening to mid-green by midsummer, then turning golden yellow before leaf fall in autumn. The bark is white with horizontal lines and dark diamond-shaped cracks. The white bark peels to reveal pale orange young bark beneath.

Flower, seed and fruit

The yellow-brown catkins open in March-April, the males about double the length of the female at 3cm. The female catkins disintegrate on fruiting and the tiny seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Uses

Specimen tree, woodland, shelter belt for younger, slower-growing trees. The wood is used for plywood and furniture making, and for handles for tools and brushes. The bark is used for roofing in Scandinavia, and an oil from the bark is used in the preparation of leather; it has insect repellent properties. Charcoal from the wood was once used in the manufacture of gunpowder, and the twigs form the brushwood fencing on racecourses and besoms. Birch has several medicinal uses and is currently being researched for its effectiveness in treating certain cancers and HIV.

Wildlife

The Silver Birch is an ecologically important species. Its light canopy allows a wide range of plants to flourish beneath it on the woodland floor, attracting many birds, insects and small mammals. It is an important pioneer species, rapidly colonising suitable open ground. It forms effective shelter for slower-growing trees like oak and beech.

--Plant Protection--

--Planting & Care--

Aftercare

Silver Birch is not normally pruned.

The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:

Pests
Spraying
Strimming

Pests

When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.


Vole, Mice 20cm	Rabbit 60cm	Hare 75cm	Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m	Fallow Deer 1.50m

Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Vole, Mice 20cm	Vole Guard 20cm	None required
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Rabbit 60cm	Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm	2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Hare 75cm	Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m	Tubex Tree Shelter 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 1.20m x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.20m x 300mm	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Fallow Deer 1.50m	Tubex Tree Shelter 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm

Spraying

Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.

The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.

Strimming

Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.