"Angela" wrote in message
om...
I have problems with my 2 silver birch trees, or at least I think I do. I
live in a brand new house that was built in spring last year, I moved in
at
the beginning of July. It's hard to describe but the development of 6
houses
was built on a small strip of land between houses and woodlands and the
houses are built in such a way that the gardens are at the side of the
house
rather than the back. My house has a very small garden that had 4 mature
Silver birch, 1 young maple (though alrealdy large), a young scots pine
and
a mature crab apple. All are within 4 metres or so of the house (one is 2
metres) and all bar one silver birch (the largest which was felled by the
developer) had to stay as part of the planning permission. Because oif the
trees the developer and planners agreed the garden should be completely
paved so the remaining tree roots are 50% covered by paving.

I did like the trees but in the summer I didn't get a scrap of sun in the
house or garden and I got a green patio in no time. I had discussions with
the council and they waived the planning permission and allowed me to have
some trees removed, so I had all but 2 silver birches and the scots pine
removed. Now I get dappled sun through from late morning until 5ish.

Last year I was amazed at just how many seeds there were from the silver
birch trees but this spring every single catkin has just fallen off them
before maturing. The trees in themselves look healthy but I am now
wondering
what may be wrong. I am worried that the patio (which is laid on a base of
concrete) covering half the roots will be stressing them. If it is because
it wont now get sufficient water will the tree put out more roots to the
side where it can get water? Could this be why all the catkins have
fallen?
Are the trees doomed? Incidently the scots pine has loads more cones than
it
did last summer.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Angela



Hi Angela,

I'm not an expert, but do own a couple of birches. Many plants will shed
buds or flowers when drought-stressed. Conversely, many more produce oodles
of flowers before they die - a swan song, if you like. Since birches are
shallow rooted, I think you're probably right with the drought stress.
Let's hope it's not the second option :~(.

Birches also like a somewhat acid soil; they're fairly tolerant, but I can
see how a solid raft of concrete over their roots might be a tolerance too
far. Can you enlarge the exposed soil area where each tree is planted? ...
and/or introduce a length of pipe into the ground so that you can water the
root area directly? I suggest you keep it as wet as you reasonably can
this summer in the hope of leaching out as much lime as possible. Also give
it a regular acid feed, though don't overdo it. Follow the instructions on
the fertiliser pack carefully.

I have a birch growing next to a concrete path (not the same as having its
roots buried in concrete, though!) and since I figured out the acid feed
trick, it's doing really well. I'm also fairly sure that Scots Pine
appreciates an acid feed. In the wild, the local carpet of its own shed
needles acidifies the soil, but it sounds like that can't happen in your
garden, so you'll probably need to help it out.

Spider