What Is Birch

Surround the tree with heavy mulch to help keep the roots wet and cool.River birch trees can be grown direct from seed or planted as saplings. Because of its affinity for wet, heavy soil, planting a river birch tree can fill in spaces where nothing else...

The cut will stimulate growth from the side shoots and nodes below it, so it's best to cut just above a node or side shoot., difficult, you can cut them back to the desired length.

Seriously, I am an exfoliation fanatic so you can imagine how taken I am with Little Prince River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Fox Valley').I can hear some of you now saying ‘River Birch!, that's gonna get 50' tall! In a year and a half! But no, this one...

The wood may be cream-colored or light brown with a red tinge. High-quality birch logs have sapwood that usually is wide and white, while the heartwood is a reddish color.Uses of birch wood include cabinets, furniture, flooring and high-grade plywood.

For birch trees, look out for the bronze birch borer, an invasive wood-boring beetle. Birch trees () are graceful, undemanding trees in the appropriate setting and can thrive for 30 years to 300 years.

According to the Forestry Commission of Edinburgh, the fungi Anisogramma virgultorum, Discula betulina and Marssonina betulae cause dieback in silver birch trees. Marssonia leaf spot typically appears on the lower branches first during summer or early...

Keep in mind that paper, silver and river birch can grow 40 to 60 feet high, with a spread of 20 to 25 feet, while weeping birch will only get half that tall. Planting them in groups diminishes their visual impact.

There are some things you should know about the weeping birch before you decide to plant one.Branches of the weeping birch resemble the weeping willow.The sizing of a weeping birch tree depends greatly on the space you provide for it.

Though less sweet than the sap of sugar maple (Acer saccharum), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, paper birch sap is used to make wine, beer and table syrup.Considered a short-lived tree, the paper birch provides valuable forage for many birds and mammals.

Repeat the measurement once yearly.Dry the log until the wood reaches the moisture level recommended for the project in which you'll use the wood. Allow the logs to air-dry naturally.Check the moisture content of your logs using a moisture meter.

Among my favorites is the "twiggy bush" that my friend thought she was dumping on me when she gave me the River Birch (Betula nigra) all those years ago. Match your ink to your color scheme.I made so many decorations with my birch bark this year, I did...

Initially about 2 inches long, the green catkins overwinter on the tree, growing longer in the springtime. In late May or early June, they emerge from the scaly buds to "bloom" as short catkins.

We're not out to climb career ladders or become world famous. If you're not farming in the way that makes you happy, it's time to make a plan for change. Do you like how you're doing it?

Since birches often grow in wet soil or on the banks of rivers, they need the oxygen found in the upper layers of soil. Birches are among the most recognizable of trees, both for their white bark and for their graceful, slightly drooping twigs.

Birches happen to belong to their own plant family named Betulaceae.Alder trees (Alnus spp.) are other members of the birch family, Betulaceae. Unless you are quite familiar with both alders and birches, you may not readily distinguish the two since their...

The fungus stays in the tree for many years and continues to create this broom-like growth. The tree is rarely severely damaged and only in cases of heavy infestation. No control is generally used for the disease.

While birch tree branches last for long periods of time on their own, you may want to take added measures to preserve them and keep them looking their best.Find a flat area such as a table or outdoor space.

Do you ever take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the summer growing season and ask yourself, “How the heck did I get here?” Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our to-do lists that we completely lose sight of the path that brought us to...

With the inner bark left in place, new bark will begin to grow back, with some estimates that it takes about 10 to 20 years before you could harvest another piece from that same area.After the bark is off the tree, you can use it fresh without any further...

In fact, many huegels are built in a wide, open bowl-shape to capture the most energy and warmth from the sun. Because this technique results in garden beds with a long-term soil fertility advantage, it's best to spend some time thinking about how and...

« More Farm Inspiration » Tags farm inspiration , freeze , freezing , polar vortex , quote , snow , winter (As did the giant pot of chili I made Monday night; my mother always said there was no better food in winter than a steaming bowl of soup.) Lo...

Lower potencies work as well as higher potencies, but they have to be administered more frequently. Do you use complementary veterinary therapies on your farm? Complementary therapies are things like herbs , Reiki, massage, chiropractic adjustments and...

Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, the deciduous shrub drops its leaves in fall so the berries stand out against bare winter branches. When used in indoor arrangements, keep winterberries out of the reach of curious...

« More Farm Inspiration » Tags chicken keeping , chickens , dreams , farm inspiration , garden , vegetables Keep your eyes on hatchery catalogs, and before you know it, you'll be raising those Lakenvelders you always dreamed of.

Sometimes it's a new supplement. I took a quick look at my typical herbal seed and plant providers and found ashitaba seed readily available from Horizon Herbs, where owner Richo Cech has been growing tomorrow's leaf since Dec.

Lean On Your Cooperative Extension Most gardeners can easily ID adult insects that they encounter either through published insect guides, university resources, entomological websites or garden centers.

Fill in about three-quarters of the hole. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture. Finish filling the hole.For container-grown plants, remove the tree from the pot. If the current pH is 8.0, apply 0.3 to 0.4 pounds of granular sulfur per 10 square...