The birch family includes over 100 species. They vary in size and appearance . Weeping birch is one of the most beautiful species in the design of personal plots, parks and squares.
It has a number of features for care and disembarkation. You should know about them before adding a tree to the general landscape.
general characteristics
Weeping birch is a deciduous plant, and is found both in the form of a tree and a shrub. It has a transparent crown and a predominantly light trunk. There is also a dark color.
The tree is distinguished by endurance, does not require special soil and is quite frost-resistant.
Weeping birch is characterized by a good survival rate in almost any environment. Her growth is fast enough.
Reproduction of the species occurs by sowing seeds that are contained in its earrings. They change color. As soon as the seeds are ready for sowing, the earrings will turn brown.
The process of reconstructing the birch is carried out by means of the release of the shoots. In this case, a multi-barrel system is sometimes formed.
This species is one of the best park plants. It gives the landscape sophistication and light. The weeping birch trees shown in the photo will add to any site of grace, even in combination with other tree species.
What does the weeping birch look like?
The most common variety of weeping birch reaches 25-30 m tall. The trunk is light. The leaves of the tree are oval. The bark has a clear beautiful pattern that is drawn even from afar.
Weeping birch (photo) has flowering shoots that look beautiful and graceful. With age, they gain strength and power, and their number increases.
In the process of planting and care, it should be noted that this species is shade-tolerant and loves moisture.
The popularity of the tree brought the beauty of its appearance. Particularly elegant birch looks in the spring when flowering occurs, and the green has a bright light shade. The decorative qualities of the plant were appreciated by many gardeners and landscapers.
Weeping birch
A subspecies such as a warty weeping birch is quite common.
It reaches 25 m in height and has a smooth white bark. Young thin branches of the plant are characterized by a reddish-brown color. They are bare and covered with small growths, which give the name to the tree. These resinous glands of birch are a feature of this subspecies.
Warty weeping birch with age acquires a black-gray color at the base, and the trunk itself in this area cracks.
Very aesthetically pleasing, this variety looks on almost any type of landscape.
Birch has multi-colored inflorescences that appear along with the blooming of leaves in spring.
This species is in demand in park, alley areas, especially in places of lawn. The overall composition looks harmonious.
Dwarf weeping birch
When arranging the territory of a summer cottage or a country house, not all large varieties of wood are suitable for everyone. There are special subspecies of weeping birch, which are called dwarf.
These include the Jung variety (Youngii). Its distinguishing feature is slow growth. Thin branches descending to the ground with which this weeping birch is endowed are aesthetically pleasing. Its dwarf form reaches only 6 m in height.
Such small size of the plant does not at all reduce the decorative attractiveness of birch in comparison with its usual variety.
Ideally dwarf subspecies are suitable for areas of a small area. Jung will look good in combination with other deciduous and coniferous trees. However, next to fruit species, birch will inhibit their growth.
Wild birch breeding
Propagation of weeping birch occurs by seed. However, there is the possibility of restoring the tree overgrown. This applies to young specimens.
In wild conditions, seed reproduction is practically not observed, since moss cover prevents this.
Weeping birch (photo) is restored only in the forest.
In case of fires, young trees are restored in a year from a stump. This ability is observed in birch several times.
Most specimens of this breed, especially in mixed forests, are of overgrown origin. However, under more favorable conditions, birch still propagates by seed.
Male flowers develop at the ends of branches. They can winter. In the spring, after waking up, pollen appears in the flowers.
Female flowers (earrings) are shorter than male flowers and have a green color. They emerge from the buds, which release shortened shoots.
Fruits appear in birch at 10-12 years of life. This is a small lenticular-shaped nut that has two webbed wings. The fruits ripen in the period from July to September.
Weeping birch bears fruit profusely every year. They are opened alternately, which contributes to the fall of some seeds on the soil in the fall. The second part falls in the snow in winter. These seeds appear on the ground in the spring.
Artificial propagation of birch
To grow weeping birch, you need to collect seeds. This occurs at the time of earrings turning brown in late autumn. Allowed sowing in a cold greenhouse in the spring.
Seeds collected in autumn are stored in a glass jar until the desired season. In the process of saving material for seedlings, its seedling ability decreases from 90% to 30% by spring.
When planting, the seeds are sprinkled with earth and rolled. Straw or thin branches are laid out at the sowing place. Through this layer, watering is carried out until the first seedlings appear.
As soon as the first seedlings begin to break through the protective layer, the straw or branches are removed. This is done very carefully so as not to damage the plant. Young shoots are shaded with a shield.
When wondering how to grow weeping birch, it is also necessary to study information on caring for new seedlings. This is quite simple, but it will require some attention.
Care and transplant of birch
When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted to their designated place. This is best done when the tree has not exceeded the age mark of 7 years, otherwise it will take root worse.
The transplant is made in early spring. In the autumn, the probability of death of an individual is high. If the tree has reached a large size, planting is done in winter with a frozen earthen lump on the root system.
The weeping birch species does not need fertile soil. Therefore, it is planted in sandy, podzolic, chernozem soil, solonetzes and loams.
The best option would be moist and loose humus soil of a slightly acidic type.
The root system should not be bare. A good earthen lump or container is ideal for transplanting a species like weeping birch. Planting and care will require a large amount of water.
The planting process will be more successful with the use of fertilizers. A mixture of earth with humus and sand is poured into the pit for planting. After work, watering is required for 3-4 days. An adult tree will consume about 20 buckets of water per day in the summer. Therefore, you should choose a rather humid place for the life of the birch.
Birch grafting
The most beautiful decorative specimens of trees are obtained by grafting cuttings of another breed. No exception and weeping birch.
Its cuttings are allowed to be grafted onto an ordinary tree, and the result is an aesthetic instance. They are often found in parks and squares.
There are some tips on how to plant a weeping birch.
The height and shape of the crown of the future tree depends on the place of grafting. Grafted plants usually do not reach as high as ordinary birch trees. Therefore, they are often used to design small areas.
Decorative small breeds of birch trees, for example, Yungi, are obtained by grafting a certain type of branches onto an ordinary tree, which create such a “weeping” effect.
This will help to create a unique image of the original forms of birch on the site.
How to plant a weeping willow on a birch
When an ordinary birch grows on a site, it will turn out to make a decorative weeping shape on its own.
The tree itself will take up less space, and its visual effect will exceed all expectations.
The grafting technology involves a combination of weeping willow cuttings with branches or birch bark. Moreover, it will be possible to create a variety of forms of the crown.
There is a certain technique for how to plant a weeping willow on a birch correctly. The work is performed during the movement of the juice inside the tree. Willow cuttings should be in a state of hibernation.
The height of the stem is determined by the site of the vaccination. The escape is cut off. One and sometimes several willow cuttings are applied to the tree. They better take root if the thickness of the joint and shoots match.
Such manipulations are allowed to be done on the birch bark.
The joint is tied with special material. In case of frost, it must be insulated with a layer of fabric that does not have weave.
The branch takes root in the middle of summer. All this time it is necessary to monitor the condition of the birch, to provide it with proper watering. The tree will turn out very beautiful and original.
Having become acquainted with the varieties and features of such a decorative tree as weeping birch, everyone can choose for themselves a suitable version of the plant for the design of the site or park. Having mastered the techniques of planting, care and instilling, to create a unique and original image of the landscape will be quite easy.