River birch is native to the American South. With their beautiful, papery bark and ghostly coloration, birch trees naturally become the center of attention in a landscape. It restricts the roots on one side, and there are risks to the building. Keep birches away from power lines that may traverse fenced property lines. How far should a tree be from your house? Whether your foundation will ever develop a crack is anyone's guess. Home » Gardening Q and A » River birch – Concrete. 8-10' should be fine. Before deciding where to plant your river birch, pick a tree suited to a warm, dry Mediterranean climate. Other concerns are the roof and the house itself being at risk during storms. Branches can also pose a hazard if they happen to break from the tree. For starters, it's resistant to common diseases, grows up to 2 to 3 feet each year, and adapts to a variety of soil types. Four feet from a building is too close for any large woody plant. Birch trees, in the wild, grow best in cool, moist soils and have shallow root systems. Birch can thrive in a wide range of soil types, really only objecting to extremely wet or dry conditions, says Paul Bartlett of Stone Lane Gardens, … JoeX Posts: 1,366 August 2018 (image via handyandynursery.com) 2. River birches may grow from 40 to 70 feet tall and often grow three or more trunks, each leaning outward from the center. These lovely trees can get 40 to 70 feet tall with a spread of 40 to 60 feet at maturity, so keep that in mind when selecting a planting site. In most cases, they really don’t know what they are talking about. When planting another river birch consider the eventual height—50 to 90 feet— and width—40 to 60 feet— of the tree and plant accordingly. I want to clump them in pots and grow them to size before planting next year, spot not ready for them yet. How close to a house can you plant a silver birch tree? Twenty feet at least, you don't want the roots in your basement or the branches growing into the house. How to Sow River Birch Seed. One also could do worse than be a planter of birches. This is a fast-growing tree that averages about 36 inches of growth per year. River birch transplants easily at any age and grows into a medium tree of about 40 feet and rarely to 70 feet. It's too tall and much too close to the house. It grows up to 70 feet tall in U.S Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9. Like other birches, a river birch's root system is wide and spreading, but not powerful enough to wreak havoc on your foundation. Birches, including river birch, can be messy -- their male flowers are long, drooping catkins that drop through late spring and early summer. I would not plant it right next to the house. Third, white birches may not perform very well outdoors in zone 7, they prefer mild summer temperatures and may struggle during extended hot periods. If you don’t, planting a river birch tree or two in your yard will make for an attractive specimen and shade tree. Leaves on shady, wet paths can also cause injury to pedestrians if not frequently removed. However, this massive height contributes to the problems these trees can cause. You can instantly recognize a river birch. The plants we mentioned above are usually a better option for landscaping near the tank. 0 0 River birch grows best in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Companion plants grown with a birch tree need to complement -- not hide or visually overpower -- the ornamental features of the birch and grow in a climate and soil that already favors the birch tree. There are other species of birch available, too. Some small fruit trees and ornamental trees are generally safe as well. The tree will grow in a more open shape if planted in the shade. What is eating the leaves on my birch tree? Click to see full answer Moreover, how far should I plant a river birch from my house? Others have weak wood or are known to attract various diseases and pests. We have a home with 2 large river birch trees planted next to the house. Better to plant your birch away from that boundary -- unless your neighbor agrees to water and clean up after your tree. Having said that, below you will find 21 of the worst trees to plant. http://www.eastpenngardens.com/Bulk/RiverBirch.html Where to Plant A River Birch Tree.... call us at 215 651 8329 We deliver and plant. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Birch trees can make a decorative addition to your home landscape, but they do require some special attention. 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. River birch trees can be grown direct from seed or planted as saplings. If you then wanted to, you could replace it with another birch (a multi-stemmed kind would be better) or a smaller tree, planted further away from the house to give you the privacy you want. I know you may think that having a tree next to the house to shade it lowers your cooling costs. Ground cover plants are perfect for planting beneath birch trees because they can tolerate the shade produced by the tree. You can choose a very small tree for near your house or a slightly larger tree to set out in the yard. In addition to considering the potential risks of planting a tree close to your home, you’ll also want to think about the aesthetic of the trees that you are planting. This habit might not please neighbors. This can cause the ground-level and basement walls to bow and weaken. Most trees growing near buildings cause no damage. Tree roots are programmed to follow water. Choose a planting site that receives full to partial sun, preferably in the morning hours. And in Grumpy's opinion, the bigger a river birch gets, the less … Planting … The ones you describe seem to be of a size and age that can be transplanted. The roots, as on all river birches are seen above ground. If you must reduce the height of the tree, cut main branches back to side branches of similar size and the diameter to redirect growth outward rather than upward. Surround the tree with heavy mulch to help keep the roots wet and cool. According to Cox and Leslie in Texas Trees: A Friendly Guide, the river birch is ornamental, good for erosion control, provides abundant tiny seeds appreciated by wildlife (do you have gutters, and do you have squirrels?) It’s not just the fence that might cause problems. One is probably 4' from the house, and the other about 10' away. Get rid of the gawdawful concrete curbing, extend the bed out a reasonable amount and then plant your tree. RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason "Trees roots can grow into a house foundation and cause damage." The Ash is approx 12foot from the house. Also, where should I plant a river birch tree? The ideal spot is the north or east side of a building, where the tree will receive full sun in the morning and some shade during the afternoon. Bloodgood Japanese Maple. Also Know, where should I plant a river birch tree? How do I check my H & R Block card balance? Photograph by Cara Greenberg for Gardenista. Plant taller species 20 to 30 feet apart. It's easy to understand why the Heritage® River Birch is such a popular tree. Plus, it's an elegant source of shade, with unique peeling bark that stands out in your landscape. And beware of people warning about foundation damage due to trees. River birch – Concrete. Western river birch (Betula occidentalis) can be somewhat smaller than standard river birch (Betula nigra) but both get to be decent sized trees even in Utah - 20-30' or more. A retired municipal judgem Reynolds holds a degree in communications from Northern Illinois University. Trees, shrubs and other plant life can enhance the design of any landscape, but if you have a septic system, it pays to be very careful when planting anything. But in some cases, subsidence and structural damage can be linked to tree roots. As an aside, I am firmly in the camp of “plant close to your house" because my house has six giant pines, two giant poplars, a moderate water oak, a massive sweet gum, and a few moderate sweet gums all within 15-20 feet of my house. Plus, it 's easy to understand why the Heritage® river birch consider the eventual height—50 to feet—. 2009 ; Featured on: trees how to Sow river birch grows best full... 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