Most people are familiar with birch trees. They are small trees, suited for suburban gardens due to their narrow, upright fashions. Birch trees are usually near the top of most landscapers or gardeners lists, when it comes to choosing a tree, to over shadow a garden. This is because birches don't crowd out the garden and it doesn't take up all of the sunlight that is needed for the flowers or vegetables you are looking to plant. However, the down side to birches is their root systems, they have roots that spread across the ground using up area and space where other plants would thrive.
I consider any tree that can handle it self in poor soil, and even wet and boggy ground, this is a very stable tree that most landscapers can use anywhere. That is what makes the birch tree family attractive. However, all birch trees can't cope with a boggy, wet soil. Please read descriptions of each individual birch tree before you start planting, to make sure the birch tree you have picked, will be happy in the ground you put them in. All birch trees can handle acidic to alkaline soils. Most of them can even tolerate moderate to severe cold conditions. This is why I love using birch trees in my landscaping. Very versatile!!!
Birch trees can catch some pest and disease problems. The most popular ones are the rust diseases and borer insects. Birch trees are very difficult to tell apart from one another because of the leaf shape and size, they don't really change a lot between the different birches. The bark colors can vary from white to pink to lavender in the same species. So once again make sure your checking the description of any birch tree your wishing to purchase.
For those who are purchasing their birch trees in the winter, this is actually the best time for you to transplant the tree. Also if accessible, and the ground isn't quite frozen through you can even place them in your yard, as long as you are receiving your birch tree in it dormant stage. Never replant or plant a tree unless it is dormant. You could shock the tree enough to severely injure it or even kill it.
