The Many Benefits Of the Birch Tree

[bobm]

about 10 years ago, I purchased about a 6 ' tall ,3 trunked River Birch tree. The first 3 years it grew about a ft. per year. Then 10' and then 20'. A 10 year old boy (lives 2 doors away) was almost hit by a 2" diameter branch that split off and fell. This tree would also drip sap for 2-3 weeks for every numerous branch shed. I called 3 arborists to price selective pruning... $1700 to $1850 per year ... as it was a " widow maker ". In this economy = OUCH ! so it cost me $650 to wack - a - do to the ground this tree by another arborist . Problem solved !!!!!

 

[baymule]

about 10 years ago, I purchased about a 6 ' tall ,3 trunked River Birch tree. The first 3 years it grew about a ft. per year. Then 10' and then 20'. A 10 year old boy (lives 2 doors away) was almost hit by a 2" diameter branch that split off and fell. This tree would also drip sap for 2-3 weeks for every numerous branch shed. I called 3 arborists to price selective pruning... $1700 to $1850 per year ... as it was a " widow maker ". In this economy = OUCH ! so it cost me $650 to wack - a - do to the ground this tree by another arborist . Problem solved !!!!!

So you are saying the benefits of a Birch tree are best enjoyed when they are NOT in your yard?

 

[bobm]

So you are saying the benefits of a Birch tree are best enjoyed when they are NOT in your yard?

Yup !!! $$$ / year upkeep that I can better spend on very expensive prescription medicine for me to keep me alive. Also, to avoid a possible lawsuit due to injuries due to a known "widdow maker " tree.

 

[baymule]

Yup !!! $$$ / year upkeep that I can better spend on very expensive prescription medicine for me to keep me alive. Also, to avoid a possible lawsuit due to injuries due to a known "widdow maker " tree.

Keep on keeping you alive! And here on TEG!

 

[Finnie]

So you are saying the benefits of a Birch tree are best enjoyed when they are NOT in your yard?

Yes!

I loved the white paper birch trees we had in Michigan. My favorite tree. But they don’t grow so well down here in Indiana. So we planted River birch, which is very popular here. (Too popular- I cringe at all the subdivisions where every house has a young river birch planted right up against their house! What are they thinking?!!)

Anyway, birch trees like to lower their branches towards the ground, which gets in the way of mowing. (And walking) Cut those branches off as high as you can reach and before long the next set of branches has been lowered towards the ground. It is a never ending battle. You would have to have a really tall ladder and cut off every branch up the trunk to a very high level before the tree wouldn’t be able to reach its lowest branches to the ground. And even then I suspect it would just grow longer branches and reach anyway.

Our river birches have never dropped widow makers, but they are a very messy tree with a lot of small dead branches to clean up constantly. Beautiful peeling bark, but I am not a fan and won’t be planting them again.

But I would still plant paper (white) birches.

 

[Blowerat]

Thank you for sharing this fascinating information about the birch tree! It's truly remarkable how this tree has been valued throughout history, from Celtic mythology to its practical uses today.
The birch's association with renewal and purification in Celtic mythology is quite symbolic. Nature often provides us with profound lessons. It's interesting to learn about its resilience as one of the first trees to establish itself after a fire.
The comparison to maple syrup production highlights the uniqueness of birch syrup, making it a valuable commodity. Anyone who wants to explore more about trees and their uses can also check out this page: https://www.mklibrary.com/camphor-tree/. Thanks for shedding light on the many benefits of the birch tree, both in history and modern times.