Not all trees are suited for growing in containers, but with the right care and a suitable container, some trees thrive in this environment. Does the silver birch fall into this category, and can you grow a silver birch tree in a container?
Silver birch can be grown successfully in a container. The container size will limit the tree’s height, but the container should still offer enough space to accommodate the tree’s shallow roots. Well-drained soil with a mix of 1 part topsoil to 1 part potting soil and 1 part perlite is recommended.
Even though a silver birch grows well in a container, the right container and care are necessary for the tree to survive and thrive. Container choice and placement are crucial to providing a healthy environment for the tree and safety on balconies and decks with structural integrity weight limits.
Can A Silver Birch Tree Grow In A Container?
The silver birch tree can grow to between 49 and 82 feet or 15 to 25 meters tall in its natural environment. The size of the tree may cause you to wonder whether it is suitable for growing in a container or not.
The silver birch is not indigenous to North America and was introduced from its native habitat in Europe. Consequently, the tree is considered an invasive species in certain states of the USA. Maryland, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Washington have declared the silver birch an invasive species.
You should find out whether growing silver birch in your state is allowed before attempting to cultivate one in a container.
The silver birch is also known in the US as European weeping birch, European white birch, and the Common birch.
The tree puts on a beautiful autumn display when the triangular leaves turn brown and orange. It has a long slender trunk with a silver-white bark that becomes apparent when the thin outer layers of bark peel off. These features make it a popular tree for container growing.
Silver birch trees have a relatively shallow root system, which makes them suitable for container growing. The narrow trunk, measuring about 16-inches in diameter, or 40cm, is slender enough to look appealing in a container. The key feature that makes silver birch great for container growing is that the size of the container limits the tree’s growth.
However, the container must meet minimum requirements for the tree. A container that is too small or too narrow will cause the tree to be unable to expand its root system enough to absorb sufficient nutrients, and the tree will die.
What Container Is Best For A Silver Birch Tree?
Silver birch trees can be grown in clay or plastic containers. Your choice of container type will largely depend on where you will locate the container.
Clay pots are a good choice since they provide stability for larger trees, especially in windy conditions. Large clay or terracotta pots will be difficult to move once filled with soil and the tree.
Lightweight plastic pots are the preferred container for your silver birch if you need to move the tree frequently, or the tree will be located on a structure that cannot hold the weight of a clay pot.
A container with good drainage at the bottom is an important feature to look for when growing trees.
The size of the container needed to grow the silver birch will depend on the current size of the tree. If you are planting the tree from another container, the new container size must be 3 times the width and double the height of the current container.
You may need to transplant the tree every 2 to 3 years into a new container 4-inches wider and taller than the previous container to give the roots room to expand.
Once the silver birch has reached your desired size, stop transplanting the tree into larger containers. Keeping the tree in the current container will prevent the tree from growing taller and the roots from expanding.
What Soil Is Best For A Silver Birch Tree In A Container?
Trees in containers generally need potting soil mixed with standard soil to give the roots more substance to hold onto to provide stability for the tree. Do not use soil directly from your garden, which could introduce weeds and disease to the tree in the container.
Garden soils may hinder the drainage in a container and would not be a good growing medium choice for these trees.
A mixture of potting soil, good quality topsoil, and perlite will provide a healthy mix to keep the tree stable and ensure good drainage. A good ratio for this mix is 1 part topsoil to 1 part potting soil and 1 part perlite.
How To Care For A Silver Birch In A Container
The biggest problem for trees in containers is the growing medium drying out too rapidly. This holds true for silver birch, which prefers well-drained soil, but the soil must not be allowed to dry out completely.
Give the silver birch a good watering at least once a week in the spring and summer. If the container is located where the soil dries out quickly, such as on paving or an area exposed to wind, you may need to increase the watering to twice a week.
Watering the tree in winter is not necessary since the tree enters a period of dormancy. However, you should water the soil once a month if it is drying out too much.
Monitor the moisture in the soil by inserting your index finger into the upper layers of soil. If the soil one inch deep feels moist, no watering is required. If the growing medium is dry at this depth, the tree needs watering.
Adding a layer of compost to the growing medium will offer top-down feeding and help reduce moisture loss through evaporation.
Over-watering the silver birch can be as detrimental as not giving the tree enough water. Over-watering will deplete the nutrients in the growing medium faster and cause the roots to become waterlogged, which can kill the tree.
Feed the silver birch by adding a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer to the soil at the beginning of spring. A high potassium fertilizer would be beneficial to give the tree nutrients for strong growth.
Where Should You Locate A Silver Birch Tree in A Container?
Trees require larger containers than other typical container plants. This characteristic requires consideration of the location of the container and the tree.
The combined weight of the container, soil, water, and the tree must be considered when locating the container. If you want to place the tree on a balcony, deck, or rooftop, you must ensure that the weight of the container will not compromise the structural integrity.
From the requirements of the tree’s perspective, silver birch prefers direct sun for as much of the day as possible.
Place the container where it is sheltered from the wind to prevent the growing medium in the pot from drying out too quickly from evaporation. Strong winds could also topple your tree and the container.
Do not place the container on a hot surface, such as a paved driveway, as the reflected heat from the paved area can heat the soil in the container, causing it to dry out quickly, killing the tree.
How Long Can A Silver Birch Tree Grow In A Container?
Trees can live for a long time in containers as long as their basic needs are met. The silver birch is a fast-growing but not a long-lived tree, even in its natural habitat.
Although silver birch’s lifespan is short compared to other trees, its typical longevity of 60 to 90 years gives it the potential to outlive the gardener!
Conclusion
Silver birch is a beautiful tree that many people like to use to adorn pathways, driveways, patios, decks, and balconies. The silver-white bark and the large leaves bring striking visual elements to any space.
Growing the silver birch in a container is an ideal way to position the tree where you can make the most use of its beauty. Container growing also allows you to relocate the tree to new positions as the tree grows.
References
https://www.gardenguides.com/98426-plant-birch-trees-containers.html
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4282413/birch-trees-in-containers
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/3656/what-trees-can-be-planted-and-kept-in-pots
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/growing-trees-in-containers.htm
